Winter drought on Vancouver Island raises water supply concerns

VICTORIA — BC Hydro is warning of a winter drought on Vancouver Island, caused by nearly two months of unusually dry and cold weather.

A spokesperson with the Crown utility says the winter started wet and mild but frigid conditions at the end of January “locked up” available moisture in snow and ice.

Stephen Watson says that has created drought-like conditions in watersheds serving the Sooke, Port Alberni, Comox Valley and Campbell River regions.

He says the Puntledge River system in the Comox Valley is already in conservation mode in order to provide enough water for downstream fish habitats.

Hydrologists say the water supply forecast for this time of year has reached a record-breaking 50-year low.

Watson says Vancouver Island has had winter droughts before and needs several significant rainstorms in the coming weeks in order to bring water levels back up before the snow melts.