Water

Area resident and photographer Michelle Obre captured a picture of algae on Wiliams Lake Tuesday, June 6. (Michelle Obre photo)

As summer heats up, what you need to know about algae blooms in B.C.’s Interior lakes

You can use tools on BC Algae Watch to identify if a bloom is likely cyanobacteria

 

Rachel Stanford is recovering from a broken neck after using the rope swing at Gyro Beach in Kelowna. (Contributed/Ben Stanford)

Zipline to stay at Gyro Beach after Kelowna mom breaks her neck

Rachel Stanford was caught on video flipping off the swing and screaming upon resurfacing

  • May 31, 2023

 

Peachland Watershed after mass logging. (Interior Watershed Task Force/Contributed to Black Press Media)

B.C. grassroots group calls for change to forest management in watersheds

The IWTF is forming to help change the way the logging industry works

 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Trudeau promises to update act around use and development of water in Canada

He didn’t provide details about how the Canada Water Act would change

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Following an incident at Thetis Lake which sent two to hospital, B.C. Emergency Health Services is reminding residents of some key water safety tips ahead of the long weekend. (Courtesy CRD)

B.C residents warned to stay safe as long weekend kicks off summer fun on the water

Ambulance service urges caution as warm weather will likely see people flock to lakes and beaches

Following an incident at Thetis Lake which sent two to hospital, B.C. Emergency Health Services is reminding residents of some key water safety tips ahead of the long weekend. (Courtesy CRD)
A resident without running water at home fills a container at a water fill station, a day ahead of World Water Day, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday, March 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)

A quarter of world population lacks safe drinking water: UN

Estimated cost of meeting UN water and sanitation goals could reach $1 trillion a year

A resident without running water at home fills a container at a water fill station, a day ahead of World Water Day, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday, March 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)
Cracked earth is visible in an area once under the water of Lake Mead at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, near Boulder City, Nev. Amid a major drought in the Western U.S., a proposed solution comes up repeatedly: large-scale river diversions, including pumping Mississippi River water to parched states. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Pumping Mississippi River water west: solution or dream?

With drought continuing to parch the American West, some are casting for bold solutions

Cracked earth is visible in an area once under the water of Lake Mead at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, near Boulder City, Nev. Amid a major drought in the Western U.S., a proposed solution comes up repeatedly: large-scale river diversions, including pumping Mississippi River water to parched states. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Living Lakes Canada is seeking public insight to understand concerns and priorities around freshwater. The Columbia River was very low at Gyro Park Beach in Trail, Jan. 23, 2023. Photo: Trail Times

Help Lower Columbia-Kootenay stewardship streamline freshwater priorities

Living Lakes Canada has 3 in-person meetings, 1 Zoom meeting and online survey to participate in

Living Lakes Canada is seeking public insight to understand concerns and priorities around freshwater. The Columbia River was very low at Gyro Park Beach in Trail, Jan. 23, 2023. Photo: Trail Times
The Coquitlam Glacier, Metro Vancouver’s last remaining glacier, is disappearing fast. A Science study predicts some 80 per cent of B.C. glaciers will have disappeared by 2100. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Metro Vancouver

Disappearing glaciers in B.C. put tourism, watersheds at risk: scientist

Brian Menounos predicts most glaciers will disappear but warns against inaction

The Coquitlam Glacier, Metro Vancouver’s last remaining glacier, is disappearing fast. A Science study predicts some 80 per cent of B.C. glaciers will have disappeared by 2100. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Metro Vancouver
Creekside Estate Villas located in South Pandosy area. (Google)

Kelowna condo residents without hot water for 8 days, no help in sight

Homeowners were told parts may not be available to fix the issue for up to six weeks

Creekside Estate Villas located in South Pandosy area. (Google)
Electric rates are set to increase Jan. 1.

FortisBC increasing electricity rates by almost 4% in January

Get ready to pay almost four per cent more on your hydropower bill next month

Electric rates are set to increase Jan. 1.
Sockeye salmon struggle to get upstream in historically low water levels in Weaver Creek near the Harrison River north of Chilliwack on Oct. 20, 2022. (Submitted by a Watershed Watch Salmon Society volunteer)

OPINION w/VIDEO: Salmon die and people lose their water as B.C. sleepwalks into yet another crisis

‘It’s time those responsible for protecting B.C.s environment spent a little more time out here with us’

  • Oct 25, 2022
Sockeye salmon struggle to get upstream in historically low water levels in Weaver Creek near the Harrison River north of Chilliwack on Oct. 20, 2022. (Submitted by a Watershed Watch Salmon Society volunteer)
A view of Gibsons Landing from the top of Soames Hill, a short but steep hike on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast, is seen near the town of Grantham’s Landing, B.C., on May 23, 2016. Some businesses and amenities on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast must stop using all treated drinking water within hours as severe drought in the region forces declaration of a state of local emergency, but officials say there’s no need to panic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lauren Krugel

First COVID, now drought, B.C. brewery takes water-use restrictions in stride

Water system that supplies Sechelt area is at ‘imminent risk’ of running dry

A view of Gibsons Landing from the top of Soames Hill, a short but steep hike on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast, is seen near the town of Grantham’s Landing, B.C., on May 23, 2016. Some businesses and amenities on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast must stop using all treated drinking water within hours as severe drought in the region forces declaration of a state of local emergency, but officials say there’s no need to panic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lauren Krugel
A man walks in the water off Locarno Beach during a stretch of unseasonably warm weather, in Vancouver, B.C., Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. Water use in Metro Vancouver is much higher, while reservoir levels are lower than normal, prompting the regional district to ask millions of residents and businesses to conserve.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Drought prompts request for Metro Vancouver residents to take shorter showers

Region’s water use up by 20 per cent for time of year because of the extended dry weather

A man walks in the water off Locarno Beach during a stretch of unseasonably warm weather, in Vancouver, B.C., Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. Water use in Metro Vancouver is much higher, while reservoir levels are lower than normal, prompting the regional district to ask millions of residents and businesses to conserve.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Drowning is “not the violent splashing and shouting for help that one sees on TV. There’s no screaming or flailing of arms,” writes reporter Jenna Hauck. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress file)

COLUMN: Drowning is silent; familiarize yourself with the signs of it

Chilliwack reporter shares what signs of drowning look like after incident with son in pool

Drowning is “not the violent splashing and shouting for help that one sees on TV. There’s no screaming or flailing of arms,” writes reporter Jenna Hauck. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress file)
A man’s body was recovered from Long Lake after he was reported missing over the weekend. (Black Press Media file photo)

Man’s body recovered from Nanaimo lake after apparent drowning

Victim went for a swim Sunday, searchers found body Monday

A man’s body was recovered from Long Lake after he was reported missing over the weekend. (Black Press Media file photo)
Abbe Teasdale is filling a seasonal role as the RDKB WaterSmart Ambassador. Photo: RDKB

Ambassador ready to help Kootenay Boundary water users

“WaterSmart Ambassadors have a huge impact on the ground,” says the RDKB’s Gabe Wiebe.

Abbe Teasdale is filling a seasonal role as the RDKB WaterSmart Ambassador. Photo: RDKB
Kootenay Lake is one of the bodies of water re-surveyed by Living Lakes Canada this summer, in a study of ecological and urban development changes to Basin shorelines. Photo: Kelsey Yates

Empowering B.C. communities to protect their local watersheds

The time is now to create a Watershed Security Fund.

  • Dec 21, 2021
Kootenay Lake is one of the bodies of water re-surveyed by Living Lakes Canada this summer, in a study of ecological and urban development changes to Basin shorelines. Photo: Kelsey Yates
Members of the Iqaluit Fire Department assist with flushing the city’s water pipes in Iqaluit, Nunavut, on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021. Engineers say the source of fuel in Iqaluit’s water likely comes from an underground fuel tank built in 1962. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dustin Patar
Members of the Iqaluit Fire Department assist with flushing the city’s water pipes in Iqaluit, Nunavut, on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021. Engineers say the source of fuel in Iqaluit’s water likely comes from an underground fuel tank built in 1962. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dustin Patar
Residents line up to fill containers with potable water in Iqaluit, Nunavut on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021. The City of Iqaluit says an old underground spill is likely responsible for fuel that is contaminating the city’s tap water. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Emma Tranter

Underground fuel spill found next to Iqaluit’s water treatment plant

No timeline for when the city’s residents will be able to drink Iqaluit’s tap water again

Residents line up to fill containers with potable water in Iqaluit, Nunavut on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021. The City of Iqaluit says an old underground spill is likely responsible for fuel that is contaminating the city’s tap water. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Emma Tranter