‘Severe’ drought and hot conditions lower Cowichan

Amanda Aleck walked down to the Koksilah River where she grew up swimming and was shocked by what she found on Wednesday.

“It’s depressing. The water used to be up higher. We used to come down swimming here for a few years in a row,” said Aleck, a member of Cowichan Tribes.

The Cowichan mom says she’d love to take her daughter swimming. But rock beds now lie where the river used to be. Add to that, she says the water levels are the lowest she and her husband have seen in previous years.

“Not this bad. It’s been low, but not as severe as it has been getting,” said John Charlie, a member of Cowichan Tribes.

According to Jeff Moore, manager of Environmental Services for the Cowichan Valley Regional District, water levels are also very low on the Chemainus and Cowichan rivers.

He says it’