Drought conditions in the Boundary Region

With minimal rain over the past month and little rain in the forecast, water levels across the Boundary Region continue to decline. Provincial drought levels have the Kettle River at Level 4 and Okanagan River at Level 5 out of a 5 (representing the driest conditions).

The Kettle River south of Midway is currently at record-low levels for this time of year, measuring ~ 7% of MAD (mean annual discharge). Conditions are not expected to improve in the near future. The east side of the Boundary has received a bit more rainfall, showing flows at low to very low for this time of year. The Kettle River south of Christina Lake is measuring ~ 11.5% of MAD — very low for this time of year, though better than the West Boundary. In many areas, we see current water levels lower than our two recent drought years 2015 and 2021.

The West Kettle River (left) is showing some of the lowest water levels recorded for this time of year, with current levels below those observed in 2015 and 2021. The Granby River watershed, located east of the Monashee Mountains, has received somewhat more precipitation over the past few months. Water levels remain low and are similar to those recorded in 2015, though still higher than 2021 levels.

Groundwater levels from monitoring wells near the Kettle and West Kettle rivers are also at record lows for this time of year (see images). These three observation wells are all located in unconfined aquifers, and are considered to be hydraulically connected to the Kettle (at Midway and Grand Forks) and West Kettle (at Beaverdell).

Have you noticed any impacts on fish due to these low (and warm) water conditions? Is your well water level lower than normal? The RDKB is interested in hearing any impacts people are seeing or experiencing due to this drought conditions.
Please email: [email protected].

Now is the time for residents, businesses and property owners to look for ways to reduce water use and prepare for the possibility of reduced water availability as we move toward the peak of summer. Every reduction helps reduce pressure on local streams, groundwater, and water systems. Stay WaterWise and FireSmart.

Following a low snowpack this past winter and warmer-than-normal temperatures in early spring, the Boundary region experienced freshet (spring melt) several weeks earlier than usual. Spring runoff also showed more peak events than are typically observed during freshet.

These conditions have contributed to drier-than-normal conditions across the Boundary region, with impacts more pronounced in the west, closer to the Okanagan, than in the east, closer to the West Kootenay. Recent Provincial drought levels for the Kettle and Okanagan were set at 3 and 4 (respectively) on a 5 class scale, indicating some improvement in conditions.
To help interpret current conditions, we have compared 2026 with previous low-water years in the Boundary, including 2015 and 2021.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s drought monitor maps focus on soil moisture and potential agricultural drought conditions (graphs above). Comparing May and June 2026 with the same months in 2015 and 2021 shows drier conditions in 2026, particularly in the western portion of the region.

There are nine real-time monitoring stations across the Boundary operated by the Water Survey of Canada and NOAA. At the start of summer, water levels were lower than at the same time in both 2015 and 2021. However, following significant spring and early summer rainfall, levels have increased in most river systems and are now higher than those observed during the same period in 2015 and 2021.

Despite this increase in surface water levels, groundwater levels in the three provincially operated observation wells remain very low for this time of year.

Below is a snapshot of recent summer rainfall totals across the Boundary.

What can we do from here?
Preparation for continued low water conditions remains important at home, at work, and during recreation. Residents are encouraged to prepare their properties for both drought and wildfire risk by following WaterWise and FireSmart practices.

• Check water systems and repair leaks.
• Consider how vulnerable your property may be to prolonged dry conditions and identify where water use could be reduced or redirected if needed.
• Look for ways to reduce evaporation and retain soil moisture, such as mulching, adding shade (ie. large native deciduous trees), and using drought-tolerant ground cover.
• Minimise in-stream disturbance during low-flow periods, when aquatic ecosystems may already be stressed by reduced flows and higher water temperatures.
• Learn how natural assets and ecosystem services support watershed health, and consider ways to help protect and strengthen them.

Recent rainfall has improved conditions from where they were a few months ago, but the Boundary remains dry. Ongoing vigilance, water conservation, and drought and wildfire preparedness remain important across the region.