Local Community Advertising
(UPDATE: June 23 @ 3:50 pm) - KLO Creek Regional Park is once again open for visitors.
The Regional District of Central Okanagan closed the park off McCulloch Road in East Kelowna on June 14 due to high water levels in the creek and nearby trail.
The Mission Creek Greenway is another story, however, as multiple sections and underpasses remain closed at this time.
"While there has been some reduction in Mission Creek, the recreational Mission Creek Greenway trail remains closed from the Peck Road parking area upstream to the Saskatoon trail below the Field Road entrance to Scenic Canyon Regional Park," the RDCO explained.
"As well, the underpasses at Lakeshore Road, Gordon Drive and Casorso Road bridges will remain closed until water levels go down and any damage can be repaired."
Greenway users are urged to continue using caution in the area and only safely cross at the Truswell Road, Lexington Drive and Casorso Road intersections.
Motorists are asked to be cautious in those areas as well and keep an eye out for pedestrians while the underpasses are closed.
"During spring runoff water levels in area creeks may rise suddenly," noted the RDCO. "People and pets should stay safely back from creek banks, which may be slippery or subject to erosion."
(UPDATE: June 14 @ 1:15 pm) - The Regional District of Central Okanagan has closed KLO Creek Regional Park due to high water levels in the creek.
Multiple sections of the Mission Creek Greenway were closed earlier today for the same reason and will remain closed until further notice.
That includes:
- From the Hollywood Road south entrance at the Peck Road parking area upstream to the Field Road entrance.
- Underpasses at Truswell and Lakeshore, Gordon and Casorso.
Sandbags are available for property owners at the following locations:
- Ellison Fire Department – Station 61 – 4411 Old Vernon Road
- Joe Rich Fire Rescue
- Station 51 – 11481 Highway 33
- Station 52 – 6550 Goudie Road
- Wilson’s Landing Fire Department – 2396 Westside Road
"Property owners are responsible for having an emergency plan and the tools and equipment needed to protect their properties," said an RDCO news release. "As well, in these areas they are responsible for providing their own sand and filling the bags."
Both sand and sandbags have been available since March for North Westside residents to proactively protect properties in the area of last summer's White Rock Lake wildfire, which has an increased risk of flooding.
(Original story: June 14 @ 9:30 am) - The Regional District of Central Okanagan has closed multiple sections of the Mission Creek Greenway.
The closures come as water levels continue to rise and the creek floods in several areas throughout Kelowna.
RDCO communications officer Bruce Smith said the closures will last “until Mission Creek returns to a safe level and our staff can safely assess trail conditions.”
The closure includes:
- From the Hollywood Road south entrance at the Peck Road parking area upstream to the Field Road entrance.
- Underpasses at Truswell and Lakeshore, Gordon and Casorso.
“Pedestrians and cyclists on the Greenway are asked to use caution and only cross when it is safe at the intersections at Truswell Road, Lexington Drive and Casorso Road,” added Smith.
“Motorists are also asked to watch for Greenway users who may be crossing roads in these areas while the underpasses are closed.”
For their own safety, park visitors are urged to stay out of these closed areas and to respect closure signs posted in these locations.
Regional Parks staff will continue to monitor creek levels along the Mission Creek Greenway and Scenic Canyon Regional Park corridors.
“People are reminded that during spring runoff water levels in area creeks may rise unexpectedly and they, children and pets should stay safely back from creek banks, which may be slippery or subject to erosion,” said an RDCO news release.
“Boaters and those using Okanagan Lake are asked to keep their wakes and speed down to help reduce shoreline soil erosion and watch for floating debris that may enter the lake during the spring runoff.”
Mission Creek’s outflow into Okanagan Lake is currently around 80 cubic metres per second, but that number was up over 100 earlier this morning.
Local Community Advertising