Cottle Creek, in the Linley Valley, is one of many area waterways where usually flowing water is down to a trickle thanks to bone dry, warmer-than-normal conditions. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

drying trend

Drought-like conditions in Nanaimo region waterways providing ‘context for the summer ahead’

Jun 28, 2023 | 5:28 AM

NANAIMO — While the situation is by no means dire, groundwater supply in many areas of the mid Island area aren’t exactly flush, and it’s only late June.

Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) data showed of 19 monitored aquifers between April and June, seven are performing below average, with most of the challenged water sources in the Qualicum Beach/Deep Bay area.

Six aquifers showed an average performance, while six were above average, according to the pre-summer groundwater level analysis.

Multiple communities across the mid-Island rely on groundwater for their water supply, including Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Bowser, Horne Lake, Cedar, and the Snaw-naw-as and Stz’uminus First Nations.

Julie Pisani, RDN drinking water and watershed protection program coordinator, said while extended stretches of hot, dry weather this time of year is normal, what’s different is the reduced precipitation over the winter and spring months.

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“…and while we did see some snowpack accumulation, it was sort of late to arrive in April and then melted quite rapidly in May. All these factors combined sort of gives us our context for the summer ahead,” Pisani told NanaimoNewsNOW.

The BC River Forecast Centre reported provincial snowpack levels as of June 1 were “substantially below normal” with an average 29 per cent across the province, down drastically from 66 per cent in mid May.

May was the hottest on record for the province and mid-Island region, accelerating the the snowmelt.

In addition to monitoring groundwater levels, Pisani said they do site visits to key rivers and creeks to help supplement their data.

“We look kind of directly at the stream levels, so the rivers, creeks, surface water bodies within the region, and then it’s important to consider that ground water is actually supporting a lot of the creeks and streams in terms of keeping that stream flow even throughout the drier months”

Most Regional District of Nanaimo communities are under stage three restriction levels, while the City of Nanaimo remains at stage two.

Existing water restriction measures in place through out the mid Island region can be viewed here.

The province is actively encouraging people to conserve water in anticipation of increased drought throughout the summer months.

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