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Located in southern British Columbia, the Okanagan Valley is one of the warmest regions in Canada — picturesque with its lakes, rolling hills and abundant agriculture. High value tree fruits and vineyards, pasture and forage areas, and vegetable crops are splayed across the landscape from Vernon in the north to Osoyoos in the south.
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However, with recent warming due to climate change, this agriculture land is at risk of drying up. A recent report, Expanding the Dialogue on Climate Change and Water Management in the Okanagan Basin, studies the effects of climate change in the Okanagan and says that many water supply systems in the region may not be able to meet future demands based on the current supply capacity.
Dry Season
The Okanagan Valley is predominantly semi-arid, in some places a desert, making it one of the driest agricultural regions in Canada and highly dependent on irrigation. Climate change is now causing reduced rainfall during the summer in this already dry landscape, and reduced snowfall in the winter.
Environment Canada researchers, along with colleagues in Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, have been working with local and provincial officials on a study of the impacts of climate change on this critical ecosystem.
Significant warming, particularly during winter and spring, has been observed. Less snow in the mountains and earlier melts increase the flow of water during winter months and lessen the flow of water during the summer when irrigation demand is highest.
In addition, conditions during 2002-2003 were considerably drier than in previous years. The subsequent summer's drought was severe and resulted in fires during 2003 destroying more than 200 homes in the area.
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Climate models indicate that the Okanagan in the 2050s will have warmer, wetter winters and hotter, drier summers — with maybe as much as 35 per cent less precipitation compared to the 1961-90 average.
Water Management
Serious decisions will have to be made regarding the best way for the Okanagan region to prepare for the impacts of climate change.
There are a number of options available that can help meet possible shortages due to climate change and other factors such as population and agricultural growth. Water conservation alternatives such as irrigation scheduling, public education, metering and adoption of efficient micro-irrigation technologies would help to mitigate demand and reduce vulnerability of the water supply system.
Costs to making any changes to the irrigation system can be significant and would have to be considered during adaptation planning.
Climate models referenced in the Expanding the Dialogue report indicated detrimental changes to climate and availability of water in the Okanagan Valley in the next forty years. To mitigate this potential problem, local researchers will continue to promote adaptation planning to help ensure that drought does not become a chronic issue. Environment Canada is working with Okanagan communities to encourage greater water conservation measures and sustainable growth, and the Government of Canada will continue to encourage all Canadians to reduce personal and industrial greenhouse gas emissions to help reduce the impacts of climate change.
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