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Okanagan Lake is 6 cm above full pool, and officials expect it to continue to rise.
Emergency crews are undertaking prioritized installation of flood protection measures, and they’re asking the public, including boaters, motorists and pedestrians to help the emergency response by avoiding flood protection worksites to ensure crews can work unimpeded.
Today, members of the Canadian Armed Forces, BC Wildfire contractors, municipal staff are working in Green Bay in West Kelowna installing flood protection measures, including work on private property, to protect key water, sewer and electrical public infrastructure.
Unless work is required to ensure continuous protection of public infrastructure, private property owners are responsible for protection of their own property and should ensure flood protection measures are equivalent to what was put in place during last year’s flooding.
Region-wide flood protection measures that were put in place for possible creek flooding, including bladder dams and sandbags, are now being redeployed to areas vulnerable to lake flooding.
Boaters are asked to avoid creating wakes close to vulnerable shorelines. A boat’s wake can result in damaging wave action that can dismantle or impede flood protection measures.
Boaters should refrain from travelling within 300 metres of the shoreline and make no wake. Boaters are reminded that spring runoff has deposited significant debris in area lakes and to be extra vigilant for hazards.
Officials says they understand that people are “curious,” but motorists and pedestrians are asked to avoid travelling to flood worksites, as increased traffic and pedestrian congestion impedes emergency personnel from effectively working. Traffic control personnel will turn all but local traffic away from active worksites.
Lake Level Report as of May 20, 2018:
Ellison Lake – 426.63 (full pool – 426.00)
Kalamalka Lake – 391.88 (full pool - 391.82)
Okanagan Lake – 342.54 (full pool – 342.48)
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