Snowpack levels in the Okanagan and surrounding regions are catastrophically low this year, which has led to wide-ranging concerns over drought and the health of local watersheds.
On Wednesday, the Syilx Okanagan Nation formally declared a watershed emergency across the Okanagan, Nicola, Similkameen, Kettle, Salmon and Bessette watersheds.
The Nation says it’s in response to accelerating drought, ecosystem decline and growing threats to water security.
“The Syilx Nation is acting within its inherent jurisdiction and responsibility to protect siwɬkʷ for future generations,” said Chief Robert Louie. “Water is life, and the health of our watersheds can no longer be treated as secondary to development and short-term interests.”
A release from the Nation says current government and management systems “have failed to adequately protect watershed health.
It has been compounded by major knowledge gaps around headwaters, groundwater interactions and cumulative impacts that continue to limit informed decision-making, the release adds.
In response to the escalating crisis, the Nation is now calling on the provincial government and “all relevant agencies” to take immediate and coordinated action through these measures:
- A moratorium on new surface and groundwater licences.
- Mandatory reductions in water use.
- Establishment of a Syilx Nation–BC co-governance forum on water scarcity.
- Inclusion of local governments in coordinated watershed management.
- Protection of critical fish flows through emergency measures.
The Nation also emphasizes that all water users, which includes agriculture, industry, municipalities and the public, share responsibility for reducing water use, preventing pollution and protecting watershed health for future generations.
All Okanagan municipalities currently have some form of water restrictions in place. Kelowna was the last in the region to introduce restrictions on May 12.
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