The provinceB次元官网网址檚 near-record low snowpacks could have devastating impacts on the environment.

B.C.B次元官网网址檚 current snowpack is tied for the second-lowest March 1 levels at 34 per cent below average B次元官网网址� the lowest itB次元官网网址檚 been in more than 20 years.

Among the hardest-hit regions is Vancouver Island, behind the South Coast (60 per cent) and Skagit (70 per cent), with a snowpack at 54 per cent below average.

This trend concerns Comox Valley resident Fred Fern, a former logger and local conservationist, who has been documenting the receding of the Comox Glacier over the past decade.

B次元官网网址淚 guess the photos tell the story. The glacier is beautiful to look at, but itB次元官网网址檚 a canary (in the coal mine),B次元官网网址� said Fern. B次元官网网址淚t has probably been melting for the last 80 years, but it was stable for probably 12,000 years before that.B次元官网网址�

As a keen observer of Mother NatureB次元官网网址檚 ways, Fern noted that a few decades ago, the snowline around the Valley would typically begin at the 800-metre mark. However, he has noticed this line increasing in elevation over time.

B次元官网网址�(For most of the winter) Mount Washington barely (had) two feet of snow,B次元官网网址� Fern said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not a scientist, but IB次元官网网址檓 just worried because these changes in the last 50 years (have been) incredible.B次元官网网址�

Supported by data

Scientific data support FernB次元官网网址檚 concerns.

A report published by the B.C. government found that the Georgia Depression, which encompasses the western part of Vancouver Island, has seen a consistent .

While climate change may be a primary factor contributing to this situation, registered biologist Rupert Wong noted the presence of a recurring meteorological phenomenon influencing this yearB次元官网网址檚 snow condition.

B次元官网网址淭his is not unusual and itB次元官网网址檚 kind of cyclical. This is what (meteorologists) call an El Ni帽o year,B次元官网网址� Wong said. B次元官网网址淭hings were expected to be quite sparse in terms of precipitation and snowfall at elevation.B次元官网网址�

El Ni帽o conditions are characterized by warmer Pacific water temperatures which warm the air and lead to spring-like winter weather.

However, the biologist noted that the province is still at a deficit when it comes to overall precipitation, highlighting that most of the snow season is behind us.

This could become problematic when the warmer summer months come around.

B次元官网网址淭he gradually melting snowpack supplies a regular (source) of water that recharges aquifers, streams, lakes, and wetlands,B次元官网网址� Wong said. B次元官网网址�(However,) if the regionB次元官网网址檚 water table isnB次元官网网址檛 recharged adequately, everything gets super dry and you have a higher fire risk.B次元官网网址�

The biologist remains concerned about the rate at which these extreme weather events happen.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e had a series of bad fire years recently (and IB次元官网网址檓 wondering) just how much can our forest ecosystem take,B次元官网网址� Wong added. B次元官网网址淭hese wildfires do play a role in hitting the reset button and generating important nutrient profiles in the soil, but are they meant to happen at this kind of frequency? I donB次元官网网址檛 think so.B次元官网网址�

Low snowpack levels can also add stress to B.C.B次元官网网址檚 power grid, which relies on hydroelectricity for . Powerhouses across the province depend on snowmelts and glacier runoffs responsible for feeding their reservoirs.

BC Hydro spokesperson Ted Olynyk stays confident that customers would not feel the impact of this yearB次元官网网址檚 conditions.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a concern period now with snowpack levels being what they are, but we manage our system such that BC Hydro can ensure and meet the needs of our customers,B次元官网网址� said Olynyk.

If a region were to struggle to supply power to its population, BC Hydro has multiple options available.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e all part of a larger grid,B次元官网网址� Olynyk said. B次元官网网址淭here are three dams in the Campbell River and we have the Ash River (dam) in Port Alberni. We (also) have cables that connect us to the mainland, so we have sufficient resources throughout the province.B次元官网网址�

On a positive note, Dave Campbell, head of the River Forecast Centre, told Black Press Media that the current situation may have a silver lining.

B次元官网网址淲ith the lower-than-normal snowpack, we are anticipating a decrease in the seasonal flood risk in most areas of the province,B次元官网网址� he said.

Potential impacts on fauna

Without enough snowmelts to recharge the regionB次元官网网址檚 headwaters, the biologist is worried that salmon-bearing streams might become a death trap for newborn fish.

B次元官网网址淚n the summertime, thereB次元官网网址檚 a thing called B次元官网网址榙ewatering.B次元官网网址� (It happens) when a riverB次元官网网址檚 base flow starts to diminish,B次元官网网址� said Wong. B次元官网网址淵ou get pools where salmon get isolated and (other areas) completely dry out. Where water is becoming stagnant, temperatures are going up (and enter an) anoxic state where oxygen levels diminish and salmon start to get stressed. They can develop some problems or perhaps even die.B次元官网网址�

Lower water levels can also endanger the survival of salmon in the final stage of their lives, as they need to swim upstream at the beginning of the spawning season.

B次元官网网址淲hen the water levels come up (salmon) know itB次元官网网址檚 time to go because they can get through obstacles (in the river,)B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut when there are no rainfalls, and the water tables are depleted, fish are being held up in the estuary (where they are) getting picked off by predators and poachers.B次元官网网址�

This could have a B次元官网网址渇airly devastating impactB次元官网网址� on overall biodiversity, according to Wong. A single year of poor spawning due to extensive droughts could result in the loss of a generation of this keystone species.

Consequently, poor salmon returns in the following years could lead to increased hunger for countless animals depending on them for survival.

B次元官网网址淪almon (feed the entire) food chain and thereB次元官网网址檚 definitely going to be a ripple effect on the megafauna,B次元官网网址� said Wong. B次元官网网址�(That includes) grizzly bears, orcas, sea lions, wolves, birds (and more.)B次元官网网址�

Although Wong remains optimistic, believing that B次元官网网址渘ature is quite resilient and can recoverB次元官网网址� from traumatic events, he expressed concerns about the role of human activities in potentially worsening the current situation.

B次元官网网址淢y concern is: are we giving our systems enough time to recover? Will our forest and river ecosystems recover quickly enough?B次元官网网址� Wong wondered. B次元官网网址淭he cumulative effects of various stressors, whether theyB次元官网网址檙e weather-related or caused by human activities, I think we need to adapt our resource management strategies.

B次元官网网址淲e, as a community, need to look at this kind of new weather regime and make some adaptations to how we manage our resources.B次元官网网址�

- With files from Lauren Collins

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