VICTORIA — The British Columbia government has ordered forage-crop farmers in the province's south to turn off their irrigation taps, because "severe low flows" are threatening endangered chinook salmon.

Randene Neill, B.C.'s minster of water, land and resource stewardship, said "when stream flows drop to critical levels, and vulnerable species are at risk," government must take regulatory action.

"Temporary protection measures are always issued as a very, very last resort after voluntary measures, because we recognize the huge impact it has on water users, including farmers and their businesses," Neill said.

She added that protection orders like the ones issued Monday are "guided by science, Indigenous knowledge and local knowledge, and economic analysis as well," she said.

"They are

See Full Page