The drought this year certainly wasn91裸聊视频檛 as bad as 2023, when severe drought fuelled a frightening fire season in the Okanagan. And that, said outgoing Okanagan Basin Water Board communication manager Corinne Jackson, is in part due to residents who did their part to conserve this year.
"But there were still impacts on crops, and on fish," said Jackson, who manages OBWB's Okanagan WaterWise outreach/education program, and Make Water Work. "This means we need fall rains, a good snowpack, and a nice slow spring melt to recover. Whether that happens, or not, we can91裸聊视频檛 predict."
With days getting cooler and rains forecast in the next few days, Jackson said water managers are hoping it brings relief to some Okanagan streams that have been struggling this year.
In particular, the South Okanagan91裸聊视频檚 Shingle and Shatford Creek remain at Level 3, Shuttleworth Creek is at Level 4 and has had problems with fish passage, and Vaseux 91裸聊视频� which is dry at the mouth 91裸聊视频� is at Level 5.
During a regional drought call Wednesday, Oct. 16, it was decided to keep the Okanagan at Level 2 until the impact of the potential rains is known.
At Level 2 adverse impacts to socioeconomic or ecosystem values (for example, impacts for farmers, or aquatic life including fish) are unlikely. At Level 3, these impacts become 91裸聊视频減ossible;" at Level 4 they are 91裸聊视频渓ikely;91裸聊视频� and at Level 5 they are 91裸聊视频渁lmost certain.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淲e were very happy to see strong participation in the Make Water Work campaign this year, especially given the concerns around the valley91裸聊视频檚 water supply and the need for everyone to adopt more WaterWise behaviours,91裸聊视频� Jackson said.
Make Water Work is delivered in partnership with local governments, water utilities, and garden centre and irrigation businesses throughout the valley. As part of the campaign, residents were encouraged to pledge to undertake at least one of and be entered to win $500 in WaterWise yard material.
Some 318 people pledged and one of this year91裸聊视频檚 winners is Lisa Boulanger of Kelowna.
91裸聊视频淲ater is so precious here and it91裸聊视频檚 not going to change so we are the ones that have to change," said Boulanger, who is with the Kelowna Garden Club which has been encouraging members to move away from the traditional English cottage garden, or to at least use plants better suited to the Okanagan.
Among some of the WaterWise gardening practices Boulanger uses is to mulch garden beds in the spring, which feeds plants and helps hold moisture so they require less watering, and she has installed drip irrigation.
91裸聊视频淚 try to lead by example,91裸聊视频� she said, adding she plans to use some of her prize winnings to fix up an irrigation zone and plant an Okanagan-appropriate tree.
The Town of Oliver reclaimed its Make Water Work Community Champion title for collecting the most pledges per capita. This is Oliver91裸聊视频檚 second win after taking the title in 2014.
Every year, the Make Water Work campaign has improved, grown in scope, and attracted new partners, and this year was no exception. The campaign partnered with FireSmartBC in 2024, noting the plants on the Make Water Work Plant Collection list that are also deemed FireSmart.
91裸聊视频淭his was important to us, knowing that our communities need to be prepared for both drought and fire, and that you can have both by following WaterWise and FireSmart principles,91裸聊视频� Jackson said.
Fall is an excellent time to plant, said Jackson, and you can find the Make Water Work Plant Collection list and the partners that carry it at . 91裸聊视频�
"If you91裸聊视频檙e not ready to do the landscaping work now, it91裸聊视频檚 also a great time to start planning for spring,91裸聊视频� she said.
Jackson, who launched and has managed the board91裸聊视频檚 program and its Make Water Work and campaigns, is leaving the organization later this week after 15 years.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 been a dream to create programs, campaigns and resources in response to real-world, real-Okanagan, issues, and to grow partnerships to expand the reach of the Water Board91裸聊视频檚 messages and efforts,91裸聊视频� she said.
The Make Water Work campaign was first launched in 2011 and is aimed at tackling the second largest use of water in the valley 91裸聊视频� residential outdoor use.
