The provincial government has announced a Level 3 hydrological drought rating for much of coastal British Columbia due to extremely warm and dry conditions. The areas affected stretch along the coast from the Alaska border to the Lower Mainland and include Haida Gwaii, Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Level 3 drought conditions call for voluntary water-use reductions by municipal, agricultural and industrial users but the province says it may consider regulating water usage under the Water Sustainability Act if those measures aren’t enough to maintain water flows above critical levels. It also says that if the hot, dry weather persists, angling closures may also be implemented as a number of important fish bearing streams on Vancouver Island are approaching critical flow thresholds — including the Koksilah, Chemainus, San Juan and Salmon Rivers.