The picturesque, snow-covered Chapman Lake is not good news for local water restrictions.
The lake level has not changed in the past few days and the ground is frozen and under a couple of feet of snow. So, Stage 4 water restrictions (instated Aug. 31) and a state of local emergency (declared Oct. 17) remain in place for the Sunshine Coast’s Chapman Water System.
While recent rains have temporarily recharged Chapman Creek, the watershed is not recharging at the rate needed to lift the Stage 4 water restrictions, said a Nov. 7 Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) news release.
“You may have seen Chapman Creek roaring after the recent rain last week, but once the rain stops or falls as snow, creek levels can drop dramatically,” explained Remko Rosenboom, emergency operations centre director, in the news release. “In winter, we rely on water running through the watershed into the lakes and water overflowing from our lake reservoirs, both of which we cannot count on this year due to extended drought this past summer and October.”
The SCRD is monitoring the watershed and water supply closely and should there be a risk to supply, staff will bring in more restrictions, said the release.
Siphons at both Edwards and Chapman Lake have been turned off because of freezing conditions and the temporary activation of the Church Road Water Treatment Plant (to add 15 per cent water supply to the Chapman Water System) is delayed until next week because of freezing conditions and issues associated with last weekend’s windstorm, according to the release.
“Despite recent rainfall, we remain cautious about securing adequate water supply into the winter months. Our recent drought period has brought many unknowns about how our watershed will recharge,” Rosenboom said. “I want to once again thank our community for your support in conserving water and ask that it continues as our staff work to provide water to the community.”
Temperatures "will likely" stay below freezing at the lakes this week, according to the release.
The open burning bans are lifted in Gibsons, Roberts Creek, Sechelt and Halfmoon Bay. Check with your local fire department for campfire and backyard burning regulations, said the release. Note that Town of Gibsons does not allow backyard burning or beach fires at any time.
