Last week I wrote about drought in the Cowichan Valley. This week that drought has hit home. We live in a rural area, which means we don’t have city water or sewer. We have a well and a septic field, both of which require regular maintenance. We noticed late last week that the well was…
The top disaster news in the past few weeks has been major flooding in communities across Canada. From New Brunswick to Alberta and British Columbia, it’s been a wet spring for Canadians across the country. Here in BC, the city of Grand Forks was inundated with the most water they’ve seen since 1948. Other communities…
The BC River Forecast Centre (RFC) released their April 1 snow survey bulletin this week. April 1st snow water equivalent (the depth of water you’d have if you melted the snow instantaneously) is used as a surrogate for the total seasonal snow accumulation and for the maximum seasonal snowpack on the ground. After April 1,…
On climate change, politics, and the power of good women writers. The last week has been pretty chilly for the Coast, especially for February. Where we should be seeing cherry blossoms and rain, we’ve been having nice clear skies and heavy frost—even snow. Apparently, it’s because of a split in the polar vortex. Record warm…
What?? It’s August already? Where is the summer going?? Here on Vancouver Island we’re on our 46th day without rain, and are in the middle of a serious heat wave. The fire hazard remains at extreme, and the area of the province at that rating continues to expand. The BC Drought Information Portal hasn’t been…
Watershed Moments: Thoughts from the Hydrosphere 