Citing provincial drought conditions, the BC Oil and Gas Commission has told the oil and gas industry to immediately suspend all previously approved water diversions in several areas.
This directive includes rivers, streams and lakes in the Nicola Basin and North and South Thompson Basins, excluding the North Thompson and South Thompson Rivers.
“Low stream flow conditions are escalating concerns for impacts to fish, aquatic resources and community supply in the above basins,” the commission said in an Aug. 12 order. “Water levels are anticipated to continue dropping until significant rain falls in the area.”
The directive said the commission will assist industry in identifying options for alternative short-term water supply should it be required. The directive noted local variability in drought conditions, saying it’s possible some streams in suspension areas could recover sufficiently to allow some water withdrawal. The commission conditions on a site-specific basis.
