Low water conditions in New Brunswick concern experts

Yahoo

2 days ago

A prolonged dry spell and the extreme heat of recent days have experts worried about dropping water levels in New Brunswick.
Water resources are expected to gradually decline without any significant precipitation in the forecast, the Department of Environment and Climate Change said.
"New Brunswickers are being encouraged to conserve water as surface water, and groundwater levels are lower than normal throughout the province," the province told the public this week.
The appeal was issued as major wildfires burned outside Miramichi and Irishtown — the former is still out of control — and smaller fires started elsewhere in the province.
"Groundwater levels at eastern and southeastern monitoring sites are well below normal with groundwater levels at all monitoring sites throughout New Brunswick decreasing," the province said.
New Brunswick has not seen a significant amount of rain since mid-July, and Environment Canada suggests the province will see only light rain in the forecasts in coming weeks.
Experts say that this will not be enough and that significant precipitation is needed to mitigate the effects.
The St. John River. also know as the Wolastoq, is one of many bodies of water affected by the drought.
"The heat definitely concerns me," said Colin Forsythe, the St. John River Society executive director.
He oversees the historical and ecological work the society does along the river's banks.
"We're seeing rising temperatures in the water," Forsythe said. "That can negatively impact cold-water fish species, like salmon or trout."
WATCH | 'It's more sad than anything,' environment expert says:
Forsythe said the low levels of the river are the result of a small snowpack from the winter, combined with limited groundwater that normally replenishes it.
"What we're seeing is an ecosystem in transition," he said. "It's a puzzle that becomes very complex very quickly."
Water conservation already beginning
In southwest New Brunswick, the Municipality of Eastern Charlotte has already taken steps toward conserving its water.
"There are some sections of Eastern Charlotte where the leaves are already turning yellow," said Jason Gaudet, the Eastern Charlotte CAO.
The municipality has decided to issue a water conservation order, alongside the appeal from the province.
The towns of St. George and Blacks Harbour, which are in the municipality, use ground wells to supply most residents.
"We haven't hit any points where wells have been impacted," Gaudet said. "We just want to be proactive to ensure there are some limitations out there."
The low-water advisory pertains to activities such as washing cars, lawn sprinklers and any other unnecessary use of water in the area.
Gaudet said the municipality's top priority is making sure there is enough water to combat a potential fire.
The future for N.B. environment
Things will just be getting worse, according to Anthony Taylor, an associate professor of forestry and environmental management at the University of New Brunswick.
"We will see an increase in temperatures, which means more warming and more evaporation," Taylor said.
The focus of Taylor's research and teaching are the impacts of climate change in New Brunswick.
He said this drought should come at no surprise.
"This is obviously the influence of climate change at work," Taylor said. "The single largest factor influencing the level of water in those rivers and lakes is how much precipitation over the past month and weeks, and what is the temperature like."
He said these climate symptoms are significant compared with some places in Western Canada because "they are a naturally dryer place."
"So you have then, in the long term, continued warming with the same amount of precipitation. You have a recipe for an increase in frequency in more drying and drought-like symptoms."