After spending the past 20 years researching watersheds and climate change in northern B.C., UNBC professor Stephen Déry is seeing the region change before his eyes.
t is especially obvious in the Nechako Watershed to the west of Prince George, which has just experienced three years of extremely dry conditions. Over the past 75 years, average temperatures in the region have increased about two degrees, with increased prevalence and impact of wildfires and drought as just two of the consequences. Perhaps more disconcerting, the trend is expected to accelerate.
“Our analyses are showing that over the next 75 years, we may see more than double the rate of change we’ve seen over the past 75 years,” said Dr. Déry.
Déry’s research will provide some of the baseline information that will frame discussion during a workshop occurring this Friday on the state of the Nechako Watershed and how the region should respond. The event is being presented by the Nechako Watershed Roundtable (NWR), which has been convened by the Fraser Basin Council since 2015 and brings together representatives from Indigenous communities, local and regional governments, provincial and federal agencies, and other public and private sector organizations and non-profits, all sharing a commitment and concern for the health of the Nechako Watershed.
“Every year, the province tracks drought conditions in different regions of BC and in 2024, there was no region with a longer or more severe drought than the Nechako River Watershed. This is a critical issue that needs our attention,” said Brian Frenkel, a councillor in Vanderhoof who chairs the NWR’s Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Steering Committee and was involved with the initial establishment of the NWR. “The theme for Friday’s workshop is ‘The Water that connects us’ and it’s our shared concern for this watershed that will connect us in devising solutions and taking action.”
In addition to featuring the latest research and modelling, the event will bring together regional experts who will share current information on the impact of the drought and the importance of the watershed for communities, health care, and economic development. First Nations action plans will also be shared as models for inclusive and sustainable planning. A facilitated session led by Dan George of Four Directions Management will help participants determine priorities and inform how communities and organizations can work together to develop a framework for collaborative action.
The NWR’s Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience workshop will take place all day Friday, November 29, at the Sandman Signature on Highway 16 starting at 9:00 am. Registration is open and can be found at nechakowatershed.ca/news-events.
The Nechako Watershed overlaps with the areas of 15 First Nations, two regional districts, and five municipalities. Covering an area roughly 47,200 km², it is 1.5 times the size of Vancouver Island.