By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
Canada’s only semi-arid shrubland, often confused for being a desert, was the setting for the kick off of the annual “Make Water Work, Plant FireSmart” campaign earlier today.
The launch of the climate resilience initiative in Osoyoos takes place on the back of an exceptionally dry spring, record-low snowpacks and early snow-melt across the valley that has led to continuing drought forecasts.
According to the BC River Forecast Centre, as of May 1 snowpacks were sitting at an average of just 31 per cent of normal and on May 12 and the International Osoyoos Lake Board of Control declared official drought conditions for Osoyoos Lake.
“The call for community-led action has never been more vital,” the Osoyoos Basin Water Board (OBWB) said.
Gathering at Osoyoos Town Hall, the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB), FireSmart BC, and local leaders joined forces to kick off the annual campaign with this year’s initiative placing an urgent focus on three core pillars: Protecting What Matters, being Water Smart, and staying FireSmart.
The 2026 Make Water Work launch event held in Osoyoos on May 20, 2026. From left to right: OBWB Communications Manager Carmen Weld, OBWB Director and Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff, FireSmart™ BC Landscape Consultant Karla Hoffman, OBWB Chair and Lake Country Mayor Blair Ireland, Okanagan Xersicape Association Executive Director Sigrie Hendrick and OBWB Executive Director Melissa Tesche.
Contributed photo
Hosting the launch, Sue McKortoff, OBWB Director and Osoyoos Mayor emphasized that climate resilience must start in our own backyards.
“Living in Osoyoos, we understand more than anyone how precious and scarce water truly is,” said McKortoff. “As we face down an unpredictable summer with early drought conditions, we have a collective responsibility to Protect What Matters — our families, our homes, and our beautiful valley.
“Being Water Smart isn’t just about conservation anymore; it’s about survival for our agricultural sector, our local ecosystems, and our wildfire defenses. By merging water conservation with FireSmart landscaping, we can design yards that look beautiful, save water, and serve as a shield against wildfire.”
To make the biggest impact possible, the OBWB has continued its vital partnership with FireSmart BC, providing residents with actionable ways to protect their properties.
“The choices we make in our yards directly impact our community’s vulnerability,” said Karla Hoffman, FireSmart BC Landscaping Expert.
Hoffman highlighted the importance of choosing the right plants and location. She said that by choosing FireSmart vegetation and keeping a non-combustible zone within 1.5 metres of homes, the risk of fire is reduced.
“Prevention is our best protection,” she added. Choosing drought tolerant plants, watering wisely, and planting strategically, helps to conserve decreasing groundwater levels and also create fire-resistant landscapes, she said.
Blair Ireland, OBWB Chair and Lake Country Mayor noted that the extreme climate trends hitting the valley demand a unified approach.
“The increasing heat and extended drought demand that every single resident become conscious of their outdoor water use. Outdoor residential irrigation remains the second-largest use of water in the valley. If we change how we manage our lawns and gardens, we can drastically improve our water security,” said Ireland.
Central to the campaign is the Make Water Work Plant Collection, a curated database of over 100 perennials, grasses, shrubs, and trees developed alongside the Okanagan Xeriscape Association.
These plants are uniquely adapted to thrive in the Okanagan’s semi-arid climate without requiring excessive irrigation. New this year, the list includes labels that show which items are also deer-resistant.
As part of the launch, McKortoff threw down the gauntlet to the rest of the Okanagan, officially entering Osoyoos into the friendly annual battle for the title of Make Water Work Community Champion — awarded to the community that collects the most conservation pledges per capita.
“Armstrong held the crown long enough and we were proud to bring the title to Osoyoos in 2025,” said McKortoff. “I am challenging all Osoyoos residents to bring home a back-to-back win! Step up, take the pledge, and show the valley what it truly means to be a resilient, Water Smart community.”
Okanagan residents are urged to visit MakeWaterWork.ca to find water-saving tips, view the plant collection, and take the pledge to be automatically entered to win $1,000 to transform your outdoor space into a water-saving powerhouse.
Two winners will be rewarded with a $500 Gift Card to a local Make Water Work partner of your choice and a $500 VISA Gift Card to WaterWise your landscape.
