The Elk Valley currently has the lowest snowpack since records began in 1983.
The area had 60 to 70 per cent less snow than normal last winter, and current measurements of the snow pack at Morrissey Ridge show the lowest water levels since records began.
Allan Chapman, head of the River Forecast Centre with the BC government, said there is now no snowpack left to record.
“Usually at this time of year, our instruments would record about 200m snow water, which is the amount of water that can be taken from the snow, in Fernie. Right now there is absolutely none,” he said.
“We also measured a snow pack near Morrissey Bridge which is 64 per cent below normal size.
“These are the lowest measurements we have seen since we began taking these measurements in 1983.”
Chapman says the low current measurements are a direct result of low snowfall over winter, and early season melting.
“It was a very dry winter, and there was also a warm spell from the beginning of January right through to mid-March, with temperatures three to five degrees higher than normal. This melted a lot of the snowpack at lower and mid elevations.”
He said that conditions have improved a little this month, with quite a lot of rain, but a lot more is needed to get the water levels up to normal.
He added: “Hopefully we will see a wet spring, but right now the East Kootenays has one of the lowest snowpacks in the province.”
The B.C. government is developing a 2010 Drought Response Plan to guide government actions for low stream flows and drought conditions.
B.C. Environment Minister Barry Penner has also voiced concerns about the low water levels and warned people they need to try to conserve water.
A dry winter initiates a high fire season, hope for lots or rain!
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