Nicola Post 2019-2021 Flood and Wildfire:...
Resource description:
The Ministry of Water Land and Resource Stewardship, in support of watershed planning in the Nicola watershed, funded several "State of the Watershed" reports in 2020-2021. This work was designed to help establish a baseline as part of the watershed planning process. The reports highlighted some important issues throughout the Nicola watershed and some recommendations to help improve water in the Nicola watershed. However, the reports were completed before or as the 2021 fire season and atmospheric river were occurring, not after. There were notable questions about the impact(s) the flood and fire events had on the Nicola watershed. The events likely altered the risks and the recommendations to water in the Nicola. As a result, we contracted MJ Milne and Associates to review and summarize all available wildfire and landslide assessments, reports, documents, etc. that had been written since 2021. We also asked the consultant to assess the recommendations from the older State of the Watershed reports to determine if these were still valid or if new (since the fires and AR) risks and recommendations were of greater concern and should be acted on first. Along with the summary report, the consultant took part in a recon flight over Coldwater, Spius and Lower Nicola to assess obvious visual changes since the fire and AR. This work has culminated in 1) a post-flight summary and 2) an update to the State of the Watershed report (both attached). We recommend that these reports be shared widely so that affected parties are made aware of the risks.
Additional Info
| Data last updated | February 26, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Metadata last updated | February 26, 2026 |
| Created | February 26, 2026 |
| Format | |
| License | UK Open Government Licence (OGL) |
| Data collection info | The Coldwater River, Spius Creek and Lower Nicola River portion of the Nicola River watershed were flown in advance of a literature review to be delivered to the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (WLRS) in the winter of 2024‐25. The literature review will cover reports and summaries produced by various bodies/entities following the occurrence of the July Mountain and Lytton wildfires, and Atmospheric River (AR) flood event in 2021. |
| Resource citation | M.J. Milne & Associates Ltd. (Milne) and Polar Geoscience Ltd. (Polar). 2025. Nicola Post 2021 Flood and Wildfire: Hydrology Literature Review. Prepared for BC Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. Milne File No. WL1-002, Polar File No. 116501. |
| Resource data disclaimer | This document is for the sole use of His Majesty the King in the Right of the Province of British Columbia as represented by the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (the Province). The document contains proprietary and confidential information that shall not be reproduced in any manner or disclosed to or discussed with any other parties without the express written permission of the Province. Information in this document is to be considered the property of Province in accordance with Canadian copyright law. This report was prepared by M.J. Milne & Associates Ltd. and Polar Geoscience Ltd. for the account of Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. The material in it reflects M.J. Milne & Associates Ltd. and Polar Geoscience Ltd’s best judgement, in the light of the information available to it, at the time of preparation. Any use which a third party makes of this report, or any reliance on or decisions to be made based on it, are the responsibility of such third parties. M.J. Milne & Associates Ltd. and Polar Geoscience Ltd. accepts no responsibility for damages, if any, suffered by any third party as a result of decisions made or actions based on this report. |
| Resource location | Nicola Watershed |