Alberta Has Already Used Up Province's Firefighting Money - 2010 May Be Driest On Record

[hatrack]

Alberta is facing one of its driest years on record due to low precipitation and snowpack levels that could force severe water restrictions and devastate farmland if the situation doesn't improve. The tinder-dry conditions are also contributing to four times the normal number of wildfires and have seen the Alberta government already burn through its $90-million firefighting fund.

With fire bans and water restrictions already in some areas, the Stelmach government is urging Albertans to conserve water and warning the situation could prove dire if rainfall levels don't improve. "We are getting into one of the driest years on record -- perhaps," Premier Ed Stelmach said Tuesday in question period at the legislature. "To those in the agriculture industry, obviously concern. We haven't lost a crop as of yet in April ever in my memory, but we have to be careful as we proceed."

Speaking later to reporters, the premier said he's "very concerned," noting there's been very little run-off, pastures have been grazed considerably and dugouts are quite low. Stelmach noted he just returned from Jasper, where he noticed creeks are flowing at minimal levels he hasn't seen in "many, many years."

The situation is troubling across the province, especially in parched southern Alberta. Weather maps reveal that winter precipitation levels across almost every corner of the province were "much below normal." Furthermore, large chunks of the western half of the province have seen minimal or no precipitation in April.

EDIT

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Drought+fears+loom+Alberta/2932175/story.html

[Oregone]

1. I saw a story last night about BC

Ok, well, I couldn't help but chuckle. There is a snowpack on a mountain behind me that will put anything in Oregon to shame. Where Im from in Oregon, its as dry next month as itll be in BC in the middle of summer. I don't get it...seems like a shitload of snow here, even if its not the normal amount. :)