Oct2022 Drought Update
October 22, 2022
From Kristina Anderson (RDKB) to SION Improvement District
(A Link is provided below with more details)
As you have likely heard, the drought level for the Kettle River Basin has moved to a Level 5 (exceptionally dry). With the anticipation of rain over the next week, we hope that this will provide enough water for our streams to bring them back to a normal level for this time of year. The areas that appear to be in higher concern are located in the northern half of the Boundary and portions of the West Boundary. Thank you everyone for sending in your comments, observations and/or concerns in your region. Having this on-the-ground information has been helpful as we move forward. As mentioned in the write-up, I have not heard many concerns regarding groundwater levels so if you know of any shallow groundwater well issues can you please let me know.
With this changing climate, it is best to be prepared to start seeing these types of anomalies more often. The RDKB is encouraging people to think about how they can reduce their water needs and strengthen their private distribution system to minimize water waste. If you have any ideas on education or tools that the RDKB Watershed Program should explore or consider incorporating to help support efficient water use, please let me know.