june
news

606 Water Group will be attending these events and programs  Volunteers needed

Saturday, June 20 
10 am – 2 pm Sooke Sunday Market at Woodside Farm

Friday, June 26 
4 pm – 7 pm  Otter Point Community Association Night Market 

at William Simmons Park, Otter Point Road

Wednesday, July 1 
10 am – 4 pm  Canada Day at Fred Milne Field, Sooke River Road

Sunday, August 16 
10 am – 4 pm Shirley Sunday Market on Shirley Day,

Shirley Community Park  

Saturday & Sunday August 22 & 23 
Sooke Fall Fair at Fred Milne Field, Sooke River Road (set up Aug. 21)

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Introduction to Bad News   In the second week of June, it was slightly drizzling outside. We measured half an inch (1.27 cm) of rain in total. As one of our acquaintances remarked, “Don’t get fooled by light drizzle and on and off fog”. We are sorry this weather might make the school end-of-year events a bit damp and chilly for almost-summertime, but it is good for the Coho and Chinook salmon released from the Jack Brooks Hatchery. On June 1st, the B C Drought Portal had east Vancouver Island, which extends to Sayward and includes the CRD and Sooke to Jordan River, as already in Level 4 of 5. https://droughtportal.gov.bc.ca/

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El Nino: we are in hot water  The first thing to understand is that the El Nino-Southern Oscillation is associated with wind and water currents in the Pacific Ocean. Looking at the ocean, not the adjoining continents, the eastern Pacific is along the west coast of the Americas, and the western Pacific is over by Asia and Australia. The fluctuations are caused by warm and cold water interacting near the equator. The El Nino/La Nina cycle repeats every two to seven years, usually lasts nine to twelve months, but may last for years. It is not a new phenomenon, but the timing and effects of the cycle are not long range predictable. Although it begins in the Pacific Ocean, by shifting wind and weather patterns it affects global weather. Climate change increases the effects because it increases the temperatures of the air and water.

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A mild “La Nina” in 2025 gave Vancouver Island a warm, wet winter and the eastern provinces and states excessive cold and snowfall. As of June 11, weather scientists see the El Nino phase has begun and, with record high water temperatures, record weather events or extremes are expected globally. The west coast around Vancouver Island is signaled out for a hot dry summer.  What are El Nino and La Nina?

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From the Pacific Salmon Foundation  https://psf.ca/.../warm-winter-low-snowpack-put-salmon.../   

“Early warning signs indicate that drought in 2026 could be worse than in previous years, particularly on B.C.’s south coast. This could pose significant and life-threatening challenges for salmon. 

 

As of May 15, snowpack levels on Vancouver Island sat at just 11 per cent of normal amounts and 33 per cent of normal for the South Coast region. Both are significantly less than the levels seen in the spring of all previous drought years. 

 

The province has faced persistent, multi-year drought conditions because of warm weather, low precipitation and snowpack, and early snowmelt since 2022. In places like the Cowichan River and the Okanagan, local salmon stewards are already raising the alarm for drought this year. 

 

PSF and partners are ready to take action this summer.”

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CRD Sooke Lake Reservoir- statistics 

 “Sooke Lake Reservoir slips to 90.4% full, CRD data shows. Victoria’s primary drinking water reservoir continues to lose volume as dry weather brings the collective water reserve to its lowest level for early June in years.”  A rainy start for June will help replenish some volume, but hot weather forecasted could push temperatures in pockets of Greater Victoria above 30 C and lead to a spike in water usage...

 

Current rain year accumulation between September 1st and June 7th is 1,616 mm, or 104% of the average, thanks to an above-average rainfall September to March. So far this spring, precipitation has been below average (April, 54%; May, 59%) and led to an early temporary campfire ban Island-wide that was lifted ahead of the May Long Weekend. We have been hearing and reading from an unprecedented number of Juan de Fuca Electoral Area well users that their wells are already dry and they are having to haul in water. We were watering the new plantings by mid-April. Water Watch June 7, 2026  Otter Point BC FB

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Rainwater Harvesting Tank rebate program 2026   Offsetting the Bad News for some lucky people living in the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area, is the news that the 606 Water Group is finalizing plans with CRD for seven rainwater harvesting tank rebates this summer. The tanks are intended to be for outdoor use such as watering food gardens. Tanks will have to be rated for potable water. 

 

We will soon begin advertising details of the programme, the qualifications and how to apply. Stop to chat with us at the Sooke Country Market (June 20) or the Otter Point Community Association’s first Night Market at William Simmons Park (June 26). We can answer any questions and talk about other water subjects for our area.

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Regional Water Restrictions  In Metro Vancouver, Level 3 water restrictions are in place as of June 8. Along with low snowpack and a high drought risk, there is critical construction work on the Stanley Park Water Supply. The restrictions are intended to curb overuse. 

 

Vernon has implemented Stage 3 Water Restrictions, and some areas are already on Boil Water Advisories. This means no lawn watering or filling private pools and a whopping 70% water restriction on farmers. Kalamalka Lake is Vernon’s and surrounding areas’ water source and it is at its lowest level on record. 

 

Due to low snowpack, a dry spring and a considerable amount of water being used by industrial users (for far less than B C residents are paying) many areas of BC are water short and worried. This is a serious situation for food production, for potable water, and for firefighting in a summer predicted to be very hot and dry.

 

The Syilx Nation in the Okanagan has declared a water emergency as of May 1 and include in their plan:

“In response to the escalating watershed crisis, the Nation is calling on the Province of British Columbia and all relevant agencies to take immediate and coordinated action through the following measures:

• A moratorium on new surface and groundwater licences;

• Mandatory reductions in water use;

• Establishment of a Syilx Nation–BC co-governance forum on water scarcity;

• Inclusion of local governments in coordinated watershed management; and

• Protection of critical fish flows through emergency measures.” 
  https://syilx.org/the-syilx-okanagan-nation-declares-a-watershed-emergency/

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Worldwide bad practices  This international water shortage is what happens when we take more from our watersheds and aquifers than they have to give. It isn’t only fossil fuels that have got us into hot water, or no water, just hot. Wetlands, healthy forests and intact streams that have not been forced into canals and ditches can hold water all summer long. Poor development, over harvesting forests, and allowing industries with no reporting or restrictions on water use leads everyone to water restrictions and hardship. Climate change only makes it worse. The recovery of watershed health should be a government priority at all levels of governments worldwide.

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The good news is that there are a lot of people working to undo the problems we humans have created. Below is a wonderful interactive find: Enjoy and learn.

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Raincoast Conservation Foundation 

Follow The Heathy Waters program has established this new approach to monitoring water pollution by working with Indigenous Nations, communities, and governments. 

https://www.raincoast.org/.../map-watershed-based.../

 

Watersheds serve as the basis for characterizing water quality from mountain peaks to the sea and provide an opportunity to identify pollution sources or activities that degrade fish habitat. 

 

The goal of Healthy Waters is to empower communities with a clear understanding of water quality in their watersheds, allowing for local protection and restoration initiatives. Collectively, the lessons learned from our partnering watersheds will contribute to a greater understanding of threats to water quality across British Columbia, and ultimately what policy changes can be implemented to protect the quality of water for the future of salmon, whales, and people.

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Our new interactive map provides an overview of water pollution findings from the 12 partnering watersheds that drain into the Fraser River and Salish Sea.  Raincoast’s Healthy Waters comprehensive, high-resolution analysis of water will document the extent to which nearly 600 different contaminants are released into BC waters, including nutrients, metals, hydrocarbons, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, surfactants, PCBs, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, and tracers of human waste.”

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Elsewhere in the world  In May, in England, temperatures rose to 33 C, breaking historical records for May and the May Bank Holiday.

    

According to BBC and Indian news sources, temperatures hovered at 47 – 48 C (116 – 118 F) in Banda for more than a week: an extraordinary run, even by local standards.

 

In Texas, Copus Christi still faces Day Zero, with the city’s reservoir at only 8.8% full. 

Last Year, a Corpus Christi Cryptomine Guzzled over 11 Million Gallons. Now, Its Water Usage Is Being Kept Secret.

 

In Bolivia, Lake Poopo has completely dried up du so that the people who lived on and depended on the lake have lost their homes and livelihoods. The problems from mining companies draining the lake and poisoning the drinking water. Also caused by increased agriculture so that the people who lived on and depended on and by increased commercial agriculture have been known for years, but the lake was not protected. Before we say, “tsk, tsk”, know that one cause is our North American discovery and enjoyment of quinoa. Commercial agriculture has robbed the lake of its usual inflow as locals divert that stream to grow quinoa. Even if we don’t see it, our water footprint is long and wide.

https://www.equaltimes.org/bolivia-s-people-of-the-water?lang=en