By Kelsie Kilawna, The Discourse, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
As devastating wildfires spread through B.C.’s interior, skawilx (Sarah Alexis) says there’s a parallel crisis that demands attention and action — droughts.
Continue reading Drastic droughts on the horizon, if syilx laws not upheldMany years ago I watched a documentary covering different aspects about life in the high Arctic. Minutes were spent explaining how the arctic tundra was able to have such an explosion of blossoms from ground covering plants. The ground temperature was able to go much higher than in the open air, about 45 cm above.
Continue reading It Feels MUCH HotterCKTZ News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Closely observing and responding to weather fluctuations has always been key to a grower’s success, however the recent extreme heat in early July is forcing farmers to rethink plans for future resiliency.
“This heat dome was the first time where I actually felt, holy crap, here it comes. We’ve been talking about it, we’ve been hearing the impact of the droughts in some of our southern neighbours. We’re going to have to get a lot stronger about how we’re doing things and how we’re supporting each other as community members and how we can support the food producers,” said Tamara McPhail.
Continue reading How island growers are adapting to the dry summer heatNational Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Dave Nikleva walks the shoreline of a Cortes Island beach nudging oysters with the toe of his boot.
“Dead. Dead. Dead,” Nikleva mutters as he goes along.
The shellfish farmer stoops over to pick up one bigger specimen for inspection before tossing it back on the beach.
The stench along this stretch of Gorge Harbour at low tide is tremendous. But it was even worse two weeks ago when a record-breaking heat wave cooked thousands upon thousands of oysters in their shells in the final days of June.
Continue reading Oyster & Clam sectors burned during heat waveThere was a boat stranded in the sand, at Smelt Bay, on Saturday. The Woody Point’s anchor lay not too far distant, a testament to its owner’s original intention. The ocean was perhaps another hundred feet distant.
CKTZ News came to take pictures for another story. Thousands of mussels died on the exposed rocks at the southern side of the beach. They were presumably casualties of the heatwave that ravaged shellfish populations throughout the West Coast almost two weeks ago.
Continue reading Stranded in the heat, sand, and rocks
