We're having a heat wave! and it is not a good thing . . . .

I live above the Chemainus River, and the low water level here and indeed in all rivers on Vancouver Island is extremely serious. The past winter saw little or no snow on the local mountains which supply run-off to the rivers, hence there is no snow pack to melt. This has led to record low water levels and the water in the rivers is much warmer than normal, and with the looming drought our rivers are in grave danger.

We depend on rivers for so much - recreation, fish, water for industry, and in some cases even drinking water. The reservoirs which are fed by the usual snow melt are now in dire straits as well, and we are having very serious shortages.

Fish fry are being captured and moved to places upstream in some rivers, in the hopes they will survive. The Chemainus River is so low now that by the time the fish return to spawn in the fall they will stay at the mouth of the river in the estuary, being unable to start their journey up the river. "My" river (this is the same river I grew up beside with my family) is a small river, but does see Chum salmon and steelhead, as well as coho salmon. The Chum don't come up as far as where I live, but we do see steelhead and coho in the fall normally, but this year - without very substantial rain soon and in a sustained way for weeks - there will be no water in which they can swim.