The City of Dawson Creek released a new water scarcity update on July 9, 2026, reminding residents that conservation is still critical even though recent rain has helped local lakes and reservoirs. After spending months under strict Stage 3 water rules, the city is back to Stage 1 but is watching conditions closely as summer continues.
According to the Water Scarcity Response Update, water levels at Bearhole Lake have improved enough that water is now reaching the top of the weir. This is better than last year, but the Kiskatinaw River watershed—the city’s only water source since 1942—remains in drought. The city’s goal is to fill reservoirs before winter so there is enough water through the colder months.
Dawson Creek moved back to Stage 1 water conservation on May 25, 2026, after months of Stage 3 restrictions that began in September 2025. Under Stage 1 rules, residents can water lawns only on specific days based on address: even-numbered homes on even calendar dates, odd-numbered homes on odd dates. Watering is allowed between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. These limits are meant to keep demand in check while the drought continues.
The update follows a difficult period that saw the city declare a State of Local Emergency on October 14, 2025, as the Kiskatinaw River hit record lows. That emergency ended in February 2026, but the city is working on long-term solutions. A Water Supply System Project is being studied to pipe water from the Peace River through a roughly 52-kilometre pipeline, at an estimated cost of $100 million. In the meantime, an emergency plan to pump water from the Peace River using temporary hoses along highways is ready if the Kiskatinaw River cannot meet the city’s needs.
Residents can find ongoing updates through the city’s emergency services page and are asked to follow current watering schedules. City crews continue monitoring stream flows, reservoir levels, and weather forecasts to see if tighter rules will be needed later this summer.
