Glaciers in southeastern B.C. are retreating at an alarming rate, which could have serious consequences for the region's water supply, says a new study for the Columbia Basin Trust.

The study estimates that the average temperature in the Columbia River Basin has gone up by 1.5 degrees in the past century, with the temperature increases most pronounced in the winter.

It concludes that has caused the glaciers in and around the East and West Kootenays to shrink by 16 per cent in total area between 1985 and 2000, which the trust's Kindy Gosal calls a "huge number."

Gosal said one glacier lost 60 per cent of its total ice area.

He said that's a concern because glaciers act as massive reservoirs, which feed streams and lakes when temperatures rise and rain stops.

As the glaciers get smaller, he said, the dry summer months will get drier.

"Winter temperatures and winter impacts are starting to have an effect later on in the year because we don't have these reservoirs of snow and ice available to us."

Gossal said that could lead to more wildfires, threatened fish stocks and other environmental problems.