The dramatic increase in restrictions in recent decades indicates the increase in the number of streams that are reaching capacity for water use. Nelson, Kamloops, Victoria, Cariboo andVernon. Stream restrictions are used as a management tool to ensure that water supply in the province is maintained. Restrictions may range from including minimum fish flow clauses in a water licence, to suspending the issuance of any further licences on a water body. The number of restrictions on British Columbia streams is indicative of the intensity of water use in the province, pressures on water supply and the intensity of water management that is required to maintain that water supply.
Water has numerous and often competing users.
To ensure availability for all users, water is carefully managed. Demand for water influences stream flows and water levels. Demand tends to be highest in summer, when water supplies are usually lowest. Water shortages affect not only everyone that uses the water, but also the plant and animal life that depends on that water body for survival. A complete technical document in Acrobat PDF format is available for this indicator.