Water-use order issued for Salmon River watershed to protect Chinook

The B.C. government has restricted water use in the Salmon River watershed in Langley and Abbotsford, citing critically low streamflows and the need to protect returning Chinook salmon.

Under an Aug. 19 order issued through the Water Sustainability Act, 458 surface-water and groundwater licence holders, along with transitioning groundwater users, must stop using water to irrigate forage crops, lawns, fairways and gardens for industrial purposes. The province says affected users will be notified directly.

More than 200 adult Chinook have entered the watershed, but flows remain below levels needed to protect fish. The order is intended to maintain minimum environmental flows for migrating and spawning salmon.

A previous temporary protection order issued July 28 was lifted Aug. 8 as farmers and ranchers faced elevated wildfire risk. Water may still be used if wildfire or firefighting occurs in the affected area, and the province says the new order will be rescinded once conditions improve.

Programs are available to help producers facing drought-related crop losses, lower income or higher costs. The AgriService BC line is 1-888-221-7141.