Okanagan remains very dry, putting salmon at risk

The Okanagan continues to be ranked as abnormally dry, increasing concerns for spawning season.

The B.C. River Forecast Centre said the Okanagan had a High Water Scarcity rating and was at Drought Level 2 Thursday.

The region was just one of three to have a drought rating that high, all of which were located in the Southern Interior, and the only areas that also had High Water Scarcity levels bordered the Okanagan.

The agency said “many tributaries are approaching or remain below critical flow thresholds,” and while Kokanee spawning had passed its peak they still remain active in the Okanagan, while “Sockeye returns continue to increase, with spawning yet to peak and fish are now being observed in some Okanagan tributaries. It also stated the “low flows in the Salmon River and Bessette Creek continue to pose a risk to incoming Coho, with higher streamflows needed to support migration and spawning.”