Boundary Integrated Watershed Service

08/28/2026

Kettle and Okanagan River watersheds remain at Provincial Drought Level 5 (the driest level)

River levels continue to be very low throughout most of the Kettle River watershed, with many stations showing record-low levels for this time of year.
Have you been wondering how local conditions compare with other BC watersheds?
The province has released a review of streamflow percentiles using two calculations: 1. the 7-day average and 2. the daily measurement. The Kettle and Okanagan basins are currently the lowest in BC (see attached images).
The Boundary Region is expecting rain over the next week. Let's hope it is sufficient to improve our streamflow levels.

Stay WaterWise and FireSmart

For more information on streamflow, groundwater levels and the provincial drought rating: DroughtPortal.gov.bc.ca

08/19/2026

💧Drought and Water Temperatures🐟
As summer dry conditions continue, our local streams are carrying less water — and that water is warming up.

For fish and other aquatic life, warm water can be stressful. While temperatures often cool overnight, fish experience the full 24-hour cycle: the heat of the day and cooling during the night. The graphs below show water temperatures recorded at monitoring stations in the West Kettle, Kettle, Granby, and Boundary Creek watersheds. Note that these water temp readings represent conditions at one location in the stream; water temperatures can vary throughout the stream, with cooler water often in deeper pools and some shaded reaches.

A deeper, shaded pool can offer a much-needed cool-water refuge. But during low-water conditions, those pools may become shallow or disconnected from the rest of the stream. If fish cannot move safely between pools, they may not be able to reach the cooler water they need.

Have you noticed any impacts on fish or changes in local stream conditions related to the drought? For example, have you seen more bird predation where fish are concentrated in shallow or isolated pools? Share you observations below, or email [email protected].

Graph: Water Temperatures from Water Survey of Canada real-time monitoring stations on the Kettle River, West Kettle River, Boundary Creek and Granby River. Data and graph provided by the Province.

08/17/2026

💧 Boundary Conditions Update: Low Rainfall, Low Flows and Warm Streams 🌡️
The Boundary remains very dry. The Kettle and Okanagan River watersheds are both at Provincial Drought Level 5—the highest drought rating. www.droughtportal.gov.bc.ca

As you may remember, freshet arrived weeks earlier than usual this year. Since then, summer rainfall has generally been below normal and has not been enough to replenish local streams and rivers. From June 1 to August 14, most monitoring locations received less rain than normal. Grand Forks and Nicoll were closer to normal, largely because of those June rains.

As a result, water levels remain low to very low. The graphs below show the Kettle River near Midway (Ferry) and south of Christina Lake (Laurier), where water levels are at or below previously recorded minimum levels. www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/rfc

Rain is forecast (CDN model) for parts of the Boundary (image below), with expected amounts varying widely across the watershed. While any rainfall is welcome, current conditions remain very dry in many areas.

The next update will look at what these conditions mean for local stream temperatures.

As we work together through ongoing drought and elevated wildfire conditions, thank you for continuing to be WaterWise and FireSmart. Questions or to report conditions and/or concerns: [email protected]

08/11/2026

From the BC Wildfire Service: Off Road Vehicle ban in the Boundary Region (Southeast Fire Centre) until conditions improve.

With so many wildfires affecting communities across BC and beyond, we are so grateful for the dedication and perseverance of the emergency response teams working so hard under extremely difficult conditions. To everyone under evacuation alert or order, our thoughts are with you, and we hope for the best possible outcome for you and your communities.

Stay FireSmart and WaterWise

Given the scope and scale of wildfires currently burning in B.C., and to further protect public safety, recreational off-road vehicle use will be prohibited on Crown land in the Kamloops and Southeast Fire Centres, as well as parts of the Cariboo and Coastal Fire Centres. This prohibition is effective immediately, as of 12 p.m. (noon) on August 10, 2026.

Full information for current prohibitions and restrictions is provided here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions

08/06/2026

Meeting for Agriculture Producers: Water Conditions Update & Resources
Monday, August 10, 2026 @ 5:00-6:00pm
Westbridge Community Hall

The BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food will be at the Westbridge Community Hall on Monday, August 10 to meet with agricultural producers and discuss water conditions in the West Boundary.

The West Boundary has been experiencing record low water levels this year. If you are an agricultural producer in the West Boundary (Kettle and West Kettle areas) we encourage you to attend.

Come hear from the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship; bring your questions, concerns and ideas.

Location: Westbridge Community Hall
Date: Monday, August 10, 2026
Time: 5:00-6:00pm
Audience: Agricultural producers in the West Boundary

For more information on the water conditions in the West Kettle, see the AgriServiceBC special bulletin posted August 5th: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/agriservice-bc/e-bulletins

08/05/2026

💧Drought conditions in the Boundary Region💧
With minimal rain over the past month and little rain in the forecast, water levels across the Boundary Region continue to decline. Provincial drought levels have the Kettle River at Level 4 and Okanagan River at Level 5 out of a 5 (driest conditions).

The Kettle River south of Midway is currently at record-low levels for this time of year, measuring ~ 7% of MAD (mean annual discharge). Conditions are not expected to improve in the near future. The east side of the Boundary has received a bit more rainfall, showing flows at low to very low for this time of year. The Kettle River south of Christina Lake is measuring ~ 11.5% of MAD — very low for this time of year, though better than the West Boundary.

Groundwater levels from monitoring wells near the Kettle and West Kettle rivers are also at record lows for this time of year (see images).

In many areas, we see current water levels lower than our two recent drought years 2015 and 2021. Have you noticed any impacts on fish due to these low (and warm) water conditions? Is your well water level lower than normal? The RDKB is interested in hearing any impacts people are seeing or experiencing due to this drought conditions. Email: [email protected].

Now is the time for residents, businesses and property owners to look for ways to reduce water use and prepare for the possibility of reduced water availability as we move toward the peak of summer. Every reduction helps reduce pressure on local streams, groundwater, and water systems. Stay FireSmart and WaterWise. Thank you for doing your part.

07/13/2026

The Boundary region remains dry for this time of year following low snowpack and an early freshet. Provincial drought levels continue to indicate dry conditions in the Kettle and Okanagan watersheds, rated at 3 and 4, respectively, on a five-level scale.

Recent spring and summer rainfall has improved surface water levels, with many systems now higher than during the low-water years of 2015 and 2021. However, groundwater levels at monitoring sites in unconfined aquifers remain very low (lower than 2015 and 2021).

Environment and Climate Change Canada is forecasting drier-than-normal conditions over the next three months, so it is important to prepare for low water levels through the rest of the summer. Please be WaterWise and FireSmart, and look for ways to reduce water use at home, at work, and while recreating.

Additional graphs showing snowpack levels and current water conditions compared with recent drought years, 2015 and 2021, are available at: kettleriver.ca/category/local/

Provincial Drought Levels: https://droughtportal.gov.bc.ca/
ECCC Temp and Precip Probabilistic Forecasts: https://weather.gc.ca/saisons/prob_e.html
ENSO Forecasts: https://iri.columbia.edu/our-expertise/climate/forecasts/enso/current/