The East Kootenay has been fortunate to have an above average snowpack for most of this past winter, which currently continues to hold steady. But the reality is that without a cool spring we will lose that snowpack too quickly, forcing the City of Cranbrook to put in early watering restrictions this spring.

That was the message from city administration to council Monday night (April 13).

Precipitation received in the watershed the past couple of weeks has stabilized the snowpack overall, but it remains very susceptible to the warmer temperatures being observed in the city’s watershed.

The cooler the spring we get, the better off we are as we move through the spring and summer months.

“We plan on starting the irrigation season in the usual Stage 1 watering restrictions and hopefully not need to move to Stage 2 too early, but Mother Nature is in the driver’s seat,” said Jason Perrault, Deputy Director of Public Works.

“We are working on a reporting system to help keep our residents and water customers better informed on our overall water consumption and our reservoir levels on a much more regular basis, which will encourage everyone to work together to use only the water absolutely needed this summer.”

Looking at the Phillips Reservoir and source levels overall, administration reports that Phillips is sitting at 99% of full, and the Gold Creek reservoir at 100% and is currently being bypassed to handle the spring freshet. Joseph Creek is also being bypassed currently because of poor water quality.

Find more on important water restriction stage information, and water conservation on the City of Cranbrook’s website.

You can also review the most recent Snow Survey and Water Supply Bulletin from the Province’s River Forecast Centre.

e-KNOW file photo

City of Cranbrook

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