The Okanagan appears headed for a “Goldilocks” summer, according to the Okanagan Basin Water Board. In a report to the board, executive director Anna Warwick Sears says Environment Canada’s projections show BC has more moderate temperatures than the rest of Canada and that BC will have “Goldilocks weather: not too hot, not too cold “. “After a very wet June, with higher than normal stream flows and higher than expected lake levels, conditions are finally easing,” writes Warwick Sears. Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s seasonal forecast for July through September leans “weakly” toward higher-than-normal temperatures and lower-than-normal precipitation. In other aquifer news, high water levels and dark conditions postponed a swan lake milfoil survey to assess aquatic weed growth. A survey late last summer observed mostly native northern milkfish in the North Okanagan lake – although it is difficult to differentiate without genetic testing. Northern milfoil does not cause the same damage as Eurasian milfoil and does not form thick layers on the surface of the water. Another survey of Swan Lake is scheduled for mid-July. Water Board staff also recently met with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada coordinators and Department of Forestry staff to discuss drought monitoring. Agri-Food Canada’s Canadian Drought Monitor and the provincial government use different drought classification systems. The province uses a drought level rating system of 0 to 5, while local water suppliers use stages based on their own drought response plans, and stage numbers vary by region. CDM reports drought conditions using drought ratings D0 to D4. Several times in 2020 and 2021, potentially confusing information was released almost to the media. “The meeting went very well and everyone agreed that future collaboration is essential. We will meet monthly throughout the summer to discuss drought conditions and coordinate communications,” a report to water board directors said.
