FILE PHOTO: Okanagan Lake
(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)
June 06, 2018 - 12:11 PM
OKANAGAN - Water levels have begun to drop in Okanagan Lake, further lowering the flood threat for spring 2018.
Okanagan Lake stood at 342.66 metres on Wednesday, June 6, the Central Okanagan emergency operations centre is reporting, after peaking 57 centimetres below last year’s record 343.24 metres.
Emergency operations officials are stil warning of flooding from high wind and wave action and say the lake needs to drop another 18 centimetres to 343.48 metres.
That represents full pool, a target set by the provincial Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources as adequate for water supply through the summer.
People living near the waterfront are urged to keep protection measures installed on their property in place until their local emergency operations centre has announced that the flood risk has passed.
Residents dealing with sandbags on private property should take precautions when working around stagnant water as sandbags that have been sitting in water can contain mould. Residents should wear N95 respirators, nitrile gloves and rubber boots and thoroughly wash hands and clothes after handling the bags.
Under no circumstances should sandbags be emptied into creeks, lakes, wetland, beaches or other watercourses as outlined in the Water Sustainability Act. The impact can destroy fish habitat and affect drinking water supply, infrastructure, flood control, navigation and recreational activities. It is also illegal.
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