BURSTA new fish protection order for the Bessette Creek watershed in the Thompson Okanagan is temporarily restricting water use to help safeguard Chinook salmon, which are under significant threat due to severe drought in the region.
Effective Friday, Aug. 28, 131 surface-water and groundwater licence holders and transitioning groundwater users in the watershed have to stop watering for a number of specific uses, according to a release from the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.
Bessette Creek flows through Lumby and is part of the Shuswap River watershed. Running through the Splatsin First Nation’s main reserve, it’s a culturally significant waterway.
Despite strong voluntary conservation efforts, Bessette Creek has persistent low streamflow due to the ongoing drought, putting endangered Chinook salmon “at risk,” according to the ministry.
The temporary order restricts water use for forage crops and certain mining and industrial activities.
“Government, local communities, farmers and other partners have been working together to support water conservation through voluntary measures,” the ministry said. “Despite significant efforts, water levels in Bessette Creek remain persistently low, threatening the survival of spawning Chinook salmon.”
Declining flows in Bessette Creek reached record lows in early July and have remained below the minimum level required to support fish population survival.
As of Friday, affected water users are not allowed to use water for:
• irrigation of forage crops
• crop harvesting, protection and composting
• greenhouses and nurseries
• processing ore
• vehicle and equipment needs
• well drilling, transportation and utility corridor management
Forage crops, such as hay grass, alfalfa and forage corn, are among the most water-intensive agricultural crops, the ministry noted.
It added provincial staff will continue to monitor conditions and the order may be lifted if streamflows improve enough to support fish survival.
Support for farmers
Programs are in place to offer support for crop failure due to drought, as well as income declines and increased costs. Ministry of Agriculture and Food staff are available to help producers with their questions or claims.
The ministry highlighted that the province has invested $120 million into the Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program since 2023. The program is supporting more than 700 producer projects that will result in new or improved water storage and supply systems for irrigation and livestock in water-scarce and drought-prone areas.
Any farmers or ranchers directly affected by the current drought can contact the AgriService BC line at 1-888-221-7141.
“Temporary protection orders are issued as a last resort, because of the impact on farmers and ranchers,” the ministry said. “In recent years, the province has worked with farmers, ranchers and business organizations in the Bessette Creek area to find long-term, proactive solutions to improve water security in drought-prone watersheds.”
READ MORE: Shuswap farmers call for better water management as fish protection order looms