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Drought cuts water supply for oil and gas companies in northeast B.C.

The B.C. Oil and Gas Commission (BCOGC) has indefinitely suspended water permits for 12 energy companies that draw water from rivers, streams and lakes in the Peace River and Liard River watersheds.

Operators still allowed to draw water from the main channel of the Peace River and Dinosaur Lake

Betsy Trumpener · CBC News ·
Two workers are seen among a series of pipes. They appear to be fixing some of them.
Workers are pictured at a hydraulic fracturing and extraction site in Colorado in this 2013 file photo. B.C.'s energy regulator is rationing water for oil and gas operators due a drought in northeastern B.C. (Brennan Linsley/The Associated Press)

British Columbia's energy regulator is rationing the water supply for some oil and gas companies because of drought in the northeastern part of the province.

On Thursday, the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission (BCOGC) suspended 20 water permits for 12 energy companies that draw water from rivers, streams and lakes in the Peace River and Liard River watersheds, in the Fort St. John and Fort Nelson areas.

"Low stream conditions are escalating concerns for impacts to fish, aquatic resources, and community supply," said the regulator in a written directive to the energy industry.

"Water levels are anticipated to continue dropping."

Much of energy extraction in B.C. involves hydraulic fracturing, a water-intensive process that requires large volumes of fresh water to extract natural gas.

CBC meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe said level 3 drought conditions were declared in the province's Peace region in the middle of August, a designation that means adverse impacts are possible.

A river with very low water levels is seen, with a bridge in the background.
Low water levels pictured in the Blueberry River in northeastern B.C., during a drought. (Contributed/BC Oil and Gas Commission)

"We've seen little rain since the start of July and the forecast calls for a dry rest of September as well," she said.

Wagstaffe says a drought in September is not unusual, but climate change is pushing hotter and dryer weather to last longer in British Columbia. 

The indefinite suspension of water permits covers the Sukunka River watershed, the Kiskatinaw and Beatton Rivers, Doig River, Osborne River and Blueberry River, and the tributaries of the Muskwa, Fort Nelson and Sikanni Chief Rivers. 

The BCOGC says other rivers are being closely monitored, and more water restrictions could be enacted.

Despite the new restrictions, the BCOGC says energy operators will still be allowed to draw water from the main channel of the Peace River and Dinosaur Lake, as well as from water stored in dugouts and dams.

A river flows behind a small structure.
B.C.'s energy regulator is restricting the use of water from the Peace River watershed, although oil and gas companies are still permitted to take water from the main channel of the river, pictured here. (Josh Pagé/CBC )

The energy regulator says it will help industry "identify options for alternative short-term water supply."

In June 2019, the BCOGC suspended water diversion for about a month because of drought conditions. 

According to the B.C. government's website, the province has the power to regulate water use "during times of water scarcity or drought."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Betsy Trumpener

Reporter-Editor, CBC News

Betsy Trumpener has won numerous journalism awards, including a national network award for radio documentary and the Adrienne Clarkson Diversity Award. Based in Prince George, B.C., Betsy has reported on everything from hip hop in Tanzania to B.C.'s energy industry and the Paralympics.

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