Rethinking Watershed Management in a Changing Climate

Columbia Basin, B.C. — Longer, drier, and hotter summer seasons are expected throughout the Canadian Columbia Basin region as the climate warms. These conditions increase wildfire risk and jeopardize historically-reliable water supplies. To track climate impacts on water across the region, Living Lakes Canada has established a network of 118 monitoring sites, known as the Columbia Basin Water Monitoring Framework (CBWMF) Network.  

The Bjerkness Creek watershed is one of the small watersheds in the West Kootenay region of B.C. that is monitored through the CBWMF network. LLC Photo

Covering an area more than twice the size of the Okanagan Basin, the CBWMF Network monitors streams, lakes, wetlands, groundwater and snow depth, with a focus on small watersheds. While government monitoring typically focuses on larger systems, many communities rely on smaller watersheds for water supply. In some of these communities, these watersheds are also a lifeline for fighting wildfire. 

A new Watershed Bulletin published by Living Lakes Canada shares new findings, using the CBWMF Network data, that shed light on how small watersheds across the West Kootenay region of the Basin are responding to climate change — and what that means for local water security. 

“In many ways, the smaller watersheds of the Canadian Columbia Basin together act as a canary in the coalmine and, as our understanding of them improves, they can be used to track changes in water reliability for community resilience and ecosystem health,” says Dr. Martin Carver, consulting geoscientist and science advisor for the CBWMF Network, who co-developed the report. 

In the West Kootenay, snowmelt historically provided a reliable supply of water into late summer — but that’s no longer the case. Communities are increasingly running low on water in the summer because spring heat is starting earlier, less rain is falling during the summer, and heat waves are lasting longer. Climate change projections and the long-term streamflow trends depict water supplies that are in jeopardy and becoming more uncertain into the future. 

The Watershed Bulletin offers important analyses and insights on selected watersheds within the West Kootenay monitored through the CBWMF Network, including Bjerkness, Harrop, Kootenay Joe, and Carlyle. With some watersheds showing early signs of stress while others remain more resilient, these data-driven insights can help assess drought potential in small watersheds. develop adaptation strategies, and inform smarter, more adaptive water management.

Key takeaways in the Watershed Bulletin include the future value of north-facing watersheds for community water supply, and the importance of recognizing watershed-specific resilience. Not all watersheds respond the same way to drought or warming, which highlights the need for tailored approaches to climate-ready planning across Southeast BC.

As the CBWMF Network data sets grow in both duration and geographic reach, they will support deeper analysis and stronger decision making. By continuing to expand and analyze CBWMF Network data, we can better prepare for unpredictable climate disruptions and improve the long-term protection of water resources, ecosystems, and communities across Southeast BC.

Read the complete Watershed Bulletin published by Living Lakes Canada. To learn more about this non-profit monitoring network, visit the program page. Questions can be directed to cbwmf@livinglakescanada.ca.