Close X
Monday, November 25, 2024
ADVT 
National

Parts of B.C. at second-most severe drought rating

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 29 Sep, 2022 03:17 PM
  • Parts of B.C. at second-most severe drought rating

VICTORIA - Little to no rainfall over the past five weeks in several areas of British Columbia has prompted a warning from the Ministry of Forests about drought.

The ministry says Vancouver Island, the inner south coast and the northeast corner of the province have reached the second-most severe level of drought on a five-point rating scale.

A statement from the ministry says those regions are ranked at Drought Level 4, meaning conditions are extremely dry and will likely have unfavourable impacts on everything from jobs to ecosystems.

Much of the Peace region, a stretch of the eastern Pacific range from the Skagit Valley north to Merritt and the Pemberton areas, as well as the Kettle River basin north of Grand Forks are all ranked at Drought Level 3.

The statement says all water users in areas covered by drought levels 3 and 4 are urged to reduce water use and if conservation measures don't show results or drought conditions worsen, water licensees may be ordered to scale back their operations.

Water licensees in B.C. are allowed to use groundwater for non-domestic purposes, such as irrigation, commercial or industrial uses, but the ministry says the Water Sustainability Act permits it to alter those licences "to avoid significant or irreversible harm to aquatic ecosystems."

"Provincial staff are monitoring the situation and working to balance water use with environmental flow needs," the ministry statement says.

MORE National ARTICLES

Public service workers in B.C. to begin job action

Public service workers in B.C. to begin job action
The union, which represents about 33,000 public-service workers across B.C., issued strike notice Friday and is to be in a legal strike position by this afternoon. It says picket lines will go up at 3:30 p.m., outside liquor distribution centres in Delta, Richmond and Kamloops, as well as the wholesale customer centre in Victoria.

Public service workers in B.C. to begin job action

Broad daylight shooting in Maple Ridge leaves man dead

Broad daylight shooting in Maple Ridge leaves man dead
Frontline officers arrived on scene to find a 33-year-old man suffering from gunshot wounds. Police attempted life saving measures on the man until BC Ambulance Services arrived to continue; however, he was later pronounced dead.

Broad daylight shooting in Maple Ridge leaves man dead

Vehicle fire spreads, prompts evacuation alert

Vehicle fire spreads, prompts evacuation alert
The BC Wildfire Service website shows the fire has so far charred about 30 hectares, under half a kilometre square, along the route south of Cawston. The evacuation alert issued by the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen covers properties along the highway and Sumac Road, west of Richter Mountain.

Vehicle fire spreads, prompts evacuation alert

Wastewater testing expanding to monkeypox: Tam

Wastewater testing expanding to monkeypox: Tam
Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic wastewater detection became a key way to track the spread of the virus. Dr. Theresa Tam says the experts at the National Microbiology Lab have now discovered a promising approach to detect monkeypox in wastewater and will use the infrastructure developed during the pandemic look for it.

Wastewater testing expanding to monkeypox: Tam

Woman charged after officers 'swarmed': police

Woman charged after officers 'swarmed': police
A statement from Vancouver police says 44-year-old Alene West was charged after an officer was hit in the head with an object on Tuesday. The statement says several other suspects are also under investigation for what is described as a "swarming" of officers who were responding to reports of an unruly man at a community centre in the same block as the encampment.

Woman charged after officers 'swarmed': police

Charges in June machete attack in Vancouver

Charges in June machete attack in Vancouver
Vancouver police say the 37-year-old suspect was arrested Wednesday near the city's Chinatown neighbourhood. He is now charged with two counts of aggravated assault and remains in custody awaiting an Aug. 17 court date.

Charges in June machete attack in Vancouver