City of Dawson Creek Ends Current State of Local Emergency, Prepares for Dry Summer

The City of Dawson Creek has chosen not to renew its State of Local Emergency (SOLE) declaration, which expired on February 17, 2026.

The decision follows a review by the City’s Emergency Operations Team. Dawson Creek currently has more than 170 days of water in storage, which is enough to carry the community through the spring season.

The City now has an emergency overland water transfer plan ready, should the Kiskatinaw River water levels drop and pumping from the river become unavailable. This plan can be activated quickly to maintain water service if needed.

The SOLE was originally put in place to support permitting for emergency measures. That permitting work is now underway and will be in place for spring if required.

Dawson Creek remains in Stage 3 Water Conservation

All Stage 3 Water Conservation restrictions are still in effect. This includes:

• No hauling of bulk water for non-potable use in hydraulic fracturing operations in oil and gas industries, including but not limited to the following activities:
  • Filling of C-ring ponds;
  • Dugouts; or
  • Any water storage facility for the purpose of hydraulic fracturing.
• No re-filling of hot tubs.
• Ongoing limits on outdoor water use, which will affect the community more directly in the warmer months

These restrictions remain critical as the region has experienced early warm temperatures and limited moisture. The City is preparing for the possibility of another dry summer.

The City Team continues to closely monitor snow and moisture levels, river flows, and reservoir levels. Response measures will be adjusted if conditions change.

Thank you to the surrounding First Nations for their ongoing engagement, feedback and support. And thank you to the Province of British Columbia — particularly Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR) — for their assistance throughout this response. Thank you also to the residents of Dawson Creek for your patience as we navigate through this unprecedented drought.

For questions about drought conditions or the emergency overland water transfer plan, contact emergency_management@dawsoncreek.ca.