All water systems in the region that operated by the Cowichan Valley Regional District are now at Stage 2 water-use restrictions due to ongoing dry weather and ongoing drought conditions.
This means that sprinkling with conventional irrigation systems and sprinklers is limited to one day a week, with a maximum of two hours per day.
“Thank you for conserving water in your community,” the CVRD said.
“Conserving water during drought conditions can help agriculture, fish and wildlife as well as your community at large.”
Most of the municipalities in the CVRD are also at Stage 2 water restrictions, except for North Cowichan which is still at Stage 1 as of June 17, and Lake Cowichan which is at Stage 1, but expects to be at Stage 2 soon.
"(The municipalities and electoral areas in the CVRD) typically all move together on stages, but this June our various systems are in various stages of demand and supply" a spokesperson for North Cowichan said.
The recent and forecasted warm, dry weather has also increased the risk of forest fires and as a result, the Municipality of North Cowichan is restricting public motorized vehicle access into its 5,000-hectare Municipal Forest Reserve to help mitigate the potential of forest fires.
Mount Prevost, Mount Sicker, and Grace Road forestry gates will be locked as of June 13 until further notice.
Forestry gates on Maple Mountain, Mount Tzouhalem, Mount Richards, and Stoney Hill are closed year-round. The MFR remains open for non-motorized recreational use, such as hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.
"We encourage the public to continue visiting the MFR as recreational users are extra eyes and ears in the forest and are often the first to detect a wildfire which can provide quicker reporting for our emergency service crews to be able to respond to a wildfire," North Cowichan said.
"Overnight camping, campfires, and fireworks are not permitted in the MFR at any time."
To report a wildfire, call 1-800-663-5555 (*5555 from a cell phone) or 911 as soon as possible.
