FOCI Report: Climate Change and Drought
By Forrest Berman-Hatch, October 20, 2022
Cortes Island has been in a level 5 drought which weather forecasts predict will end soon. According to BC’s Drought and Water Scarcity Response Plan, level 5 droughts bring “adverse impacts to socio-economic or ecosystem values”which are “almost certain” (Ministry of LWRS, 2022, p.16). Impacts can include the drying of shallow wells and wetlands, increased risk of wildfires and drying of streams during salmon spawning season. The plan recommends local water restrictions be put in place at stage 5 and warns regulatory action and even emergency response to be possible.
The Shíshálh Nation and the districts of Sechelt and the Sunshine Coast have declared a State of Local Emergency, which restricts non-essential water use. No such restrictions have been announced by the Strathcona Regional district as of yet, with rain forecast for the weekend.
British Columbia Drought Map (Source British Columbia Drought Information Portal)
Effectively it has not rained for over 90 days, with daily average temperatures staying well above 15 degrees in mid-October.
Read more in this full FOCI Report: Climate Change and Drought (pdf).
Photos by Lisa Ferentinos
Read more in this full FOCI Report: Climate Change and Drought (pdf).
