British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): The City of Dawson Creek has renewed its local state of emergency as it grapples with continued drought conditions affecting its water supply. Despite heavy snowfall in December, officials say the city’s water situation remains critical.
“A strong snowpack helps carry us through to March or April, when spring runoff replenishes rivers and reservoirs,” the city noted in a Tuesday update. “However, the Kiskatinaw River is already beginning to freeze, and water levels remain below normal.”
The state of emergency, initially declared in October, has been extended multiple times. City officials say the renewal allows them to maintain response measures while continuing the permitting process for a potential overland water transfer from the Peace River. The temporary plan would involve laying hose lines along local highways, with pumping ready to begin early in the new year if reservoir levels fall further. While some permits are in place, others are still pending before the system can be implemented.
Dawson Creek relies solely on the Kiskatinaw River for its water supply, serving roughly 15,000 residents, including the nearby village of Pouce Coupe. After four consecutive years of drought, the river is at record-low levels. In January 2024, the river froze completely, forcing the city to rely solely on stored reservoir water for six weeks.
To address long-term water security, the city is pursuing a permanent pipeline and supply system from the Peace River, a project projected to cost over $100 million. Officials are urging the province to accelerate approvals to begin construction. However, some provincial agencies and local First Nations have raised concerns over plans to sell surplus water from the pipeline to industrial users as a way to offset project costs.
City authorities continue to monitor river flows, reservoir levels, snowpack, and weather forecasts closely, preparing to take immediate action should conditions worsen.
