Stock photo (ID 76002037 © VanderWolfImages | Dreamstime.com)

By Liam Verster

Drought Conditions

OBWB encourages continued water conservation as it hands out ‘Make Water Work’ prizes

Oct 17, 2024 | 2:05 PM

Though the hot weather has passed, the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) continues to encourage people to conserve water.

The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship ranked the Okanagan at Drought Level 2 for the seventh consecutive week Thursday, Oct. 17.

Under Level 2, conditions are unlikely to create adverse impacts to socio-economic and ecosystem values, though water conservation is still encouraged.

The OBWB advised those recommendations be followed as people start to winterize their irrigation systems and farmers harvest their fall crops.

“The drought this year certainly wasn’t as bad as 2023, when severe drought fueled a frightening fire season in the Okanagan. In part, we can thank residents who did their part to conserve this year. But there were still impacts on crops, and on fish. And we still haven’t recovered from two years of drought,” said Corinne Jackson, OBWB’s communications director.

2024 Provincial Election

Nearly a third of local registered voters cast early ballots in the provincial election

10h ago

Fixed Fares for Short Trips

Neuron to introduce flat fees for e-scooter rentals in Vernon

16h ago

Water Main Break

Precautionary Boil Water Notice issued for East Hill area

Oct 16, 2024

“This means we need fall rains, a good snowpack, and a nice slow spring melt to recover. Whether that happens, or not, we can’t predict.”

Jackson added she and the OBWB hope the rain and cooler weather in the forecast bring some relief to the streams in the Okanagan this fall, as many struggled during the peak summer heat.

Additionally, the OBWB has handed out it’s ‘Make Water Work’ awards for 2024.

The campaign was aimed at reducing water use throughout the valley by having residents pledge to undertake at least one off six actions.

The OBWB said 318 people made pledges in 2024, and the winner was Lisa Boulanger of Kelowna.

“Water is so precious here and it’s not going to change so we are the ones that have to change,” Boulanger said in a release from the OBWB.

As the campaign winner, Boulanger was gifted $500 in WaterWise material, which she said would go towards fixing up an irrigation zone and planting an Okanagan-appropriate tree.

The Town of Oliver was named the Make Water Work Community Champion for 2024 for collecting the most pledges per capita.

—