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The City of Dawson Creek says it has applied for permits to bring in emergency water supplies this winter amid historic drought conditions.<\/p>\n
The northeast B.C. city remains under a state of local emergency<\/a> as winter weather threatens to freeze off flows from the nearby Kiskatinaw River, which is at historic lows after years of drought.<\/p>\n The city wants to bring in water from the Peace River, about 50 kilometres away, to help keep the city’s reservoirs replenished.<\/p>\n That would require temporary hoses to be placed along local highways, the city says, with pumping operations beginning in early 2026 if and when water is needed. <\/p>\n “With the recent snowfall, flows in the Kiskatinaw River have improved enough to meet the [total city demand] for daily water use. This allows levels in the reservoirs to be maintained for as long as possible without using them,” the city said in a news release.<\/p>\n “While this provides short-term stability, the Kiskatinaw River is already beginning to freeze and the water level is much lower than previous years. It is essential to continue advancing both emergency and long-term water solutions.”<\/p>\n The Kiskatinaw River has been Dawson Creek’s only source of drinking water since 1942. It supplies about 15,000 residents in the city and the surrounding area, including the village of Pouce Coupe.<\/p>\n The city continues to\u00a0advance plans for a permanent, in-ground water pipeline<\/a>\u00a0and supply system from the Peace River. <\/p>\n It\u2019s a project expected to cost more than $100 million and take several years to complete. The city is asking the province to\u00a0speed up approvals<\/a>\u00a0to get it built as soon as possible.<\/p>\n Stage 3 water restrictions, implemented in September, remain in effect.<\/p>\n Bearhole Lake, a protected area in the eastern foothills of the Rockies, is the headwaters of the Kiskatinaw River. Both depend entirely on seasonal rain and snow.<\/p>\n![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1763786293_403_default.jpg\")
A graph shows Kiskatinaw River water levels where the City of Dawson Creek takes in water supply in Arras. Weir water levels shown in black in 2025. (City of Dawson Creek)<\/p>\n