The province has issued the highest drought rating for the Coldwater River watershed south of Merritt.

BC River Forecast Centre hydrologist Jonathan Boyd says the level four drought rating of extremely dry is an anomaly – with the Nicola River at a level-two rating, and the North and South Thompson Rivers at a level-one.

“We ask for a further voluntary conservation from surface water license holders, and also just irrigation groundwater users near the river.”

Meanwhile thousands of party-goers will be set up along the Coldwater River for a country music festival this weekend, and Boyd says organizers have agreed to put up signage about drought awareness.

“Unfortunately, just under the Water Sustainability Act, there is no action the province can take to keep a festival-goer from entering the river. So the festival organizers have been notified that the drought level has been increased to level four.”

As of Thursday afternoon, the Coldwater River watershed is the only area of the province where there is a level-four drought rating.