WEDNESDAY JUNE 3, 2015
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Vol. 120, Issue 86
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PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
Report shows Soggy start to June after parched May Columbia River’s health improving BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
Three days in and rainfall has already surpassed the record low for June, 12.7 millimetres (mm), set 40 years ago. But the wet trend is nowhere near matching the record 227 mm that doused the region in June 2012. That year, rain fell almost daily for the first three weeks, producing 350 per cent above normal June precipitation. Not so this year, because once 15 mm to 20 mm of rain falls in the next 24 hours - it should be smooth sailing for the weekend as clouds dissipate and sunny skies return. Since thundershowers began to rock the area Monday, 16 mm of rain has fallen, which is rather normal for this time of year, said the local forecaster Tuesday morning. “It's not what we call the heavy category, which is 20 mm or more,” Ron Lakeman told the Trail Times from the Castlegar weather office. “But the reality is, there is more to come.” According to Environment Canada, the entity which initiates weather alerts, with another 20 mm of rain forecast, localized flooding in low lying areas is possible this week. Additionally, people in the southern Okanagan and Boundary regions are warned to watch for washouts near rivers, creeks and culverts. A significant amount of precipitation may fall today, Lakeman noted, but a transitional period from low to high pressure is expected Thursday afternoon. He said following clouds and a chance of showers that day, summer should be back on track with blue skies and a warming trend. “Friday looks warmer, drier and sunny with cloudy periods,” he explained. “And we show that high pressure is the dominant feature for the weekend and Monday.” Temperatures could reach the upper 20s or low 30s, which is considered seasonable for June. Next week's weather is calling for the same, though Lakeman noted the good weather may not last. “Some computer models suggest it could last next week, but others suggest there could be a bit of a breakdown as early as Wednesday (June 10),” he added. June rain follows a month of May that was the warmest in 17 years, and
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Information gathered over period from January 2012 to July 2013 BY LIZ BEVAN Times Staff
GUY BERTRAND PHOTO
Diane Constans of Trail stayed dry under her umbrella as showers continued to dampen the region on Tuesday following a near record-breaking dry month of May. The welcomed rain relief is only expected to last a couple of days with warm dry weather expected to return this weekend. the driest since May 2007. A high pressure system dominated the first three weeks of May, which brought the month two degrees above normal and set three new daily maximum temperatures, 27.9 C, 30.3 C, and 31.7 C on May 20, 21 and 22 respectively. With only nine measurable days of rain, the month's total precipitation
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was 55 per cent of normal. Most of that, 77 per cent, fell during the last week when showers and thundershowers prevailed as Pacific disturbances pushed across southeastern B.C. “It was startlingly dry for the first three weeks of May,” said Lakeman. “For the longest time, May was flirting for the driest May on record.”
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The Columbia River is healthier than ever, according to Teck Trail Operations' most recent environmental study. Catherine Adair, community relations leader at Teck, says the Lower Columbia River Aquatic Receiving Environment Monitoring Program (AREMP) annual report shows lower metal levels, and no adverse effects in animals. The report gathered information over a 19-month period, recording levels of metals, elements and other substances in the river and in animals living there. “The water quality over the last 20 years has continued to improve,” she said. “As an example, the study found that metal concentrations in fish tissue continued to decline from 2000 to 2012.” The water flowing down the Columbia River and past Teck was thoroughly tested during times of low flow, both up and down river from the smelter, at the shoreline and in water columns found midriver. The Columbia River is considered to be on the low end of the spectrum for levels of aluminum,
arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, silver, thallium and zinc. In most cases, metal levels were higher in water downstream from the smelter, but are still below environmental guidelines.
“The water quality over the last 20 years has continued to improve.” CATHERINE ADAIR
Only aluminum, cadmium and mercury amounts went above the provincial guidelines, but not because of industry. Levels were high both upstream and down from the smelter. The City of Trail gets its drinking water from the river, but Adair says residents have no reason to be concerned. “The water intake for the City of Trail is located upstream of our operation,” she said. “Additionally, the study confirmed that the water quality is good.” Like the river water, fish and other wildlife living in and around the Columbia are getting healthier. See LARGE, Page 3
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