CBC: Kootenay Glaciers Shrinking At 'huge' Rate, Researcher Warns

Tree rings, glacier and other evidence tell us that prolonged droughts were more common in the 1700s and 1800s than in the last century, suggesting that we’ve recently lived through a period of relatively drought-free climate.

Changes in glacier and snow melt are likely to result in reduced summer streamflows which, coupled with increased summer evaporation and transpiration, is expected to reduce soil moisture leading to increased drought impacts.

Climate change has the potential to disturb water allocations between hydropower, flood control, and industrial, agricultural, municipal, environmental and recreation use - creating important implications for management of transboundary waters shared with the United States. [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on October 27, 2006]

Note: CBC: Kootenay glacie... Columbia Basin Trust ... See This Link