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CENTRAL OKANAGAN – With one of the busiest summer weekends of the year around the corner, tourists and locals alike are getting ready to hit the lake.

Okanagan Lake is still more than 50 centimetres above full pool, leaving very few launches open to the public.

The busiest launch of all this long weekend in Kelowna is sure to be Cook Road by the Hotel Eldorado. The only other launch currently open is Cedar Creek Park in Upper Mission. Parking is extremely limited as there is no parking lot for vehicles and trailers.

Both downtown Kelowna launches and the launches in West Kelowna are temporarily closed for the weekend, including Sutherland Bay Park on Ellis Street, Water Street across from the Kelowna Law Courts, along with the Gellatly and the Casa Loma boat launches in West Kelowna.

The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre is reminding boaters to be respectful of those who have been most impacted by the flooding and high water levels.

"It’s important to remember that lake levels remain the highest seen in decades and some planning is necessary before heading out on the water," a statement from Emergency Operations states. "A no wake, low wake, a guideline for respectful boating in the Okanagan has been created to raise awareness of boating practices during high water levels to minimize the erosion of vulnerable shoreline and damage of property in Kalamalka, Okanagan, Ellison/Duck and Wood lakes."

The City of West Kelowna says users who require access to or from Okanagan Lake can contact the City’s Parks Department at 778-797-8849 to request supervised access.

“The public is asked not to tamper with or move barriers or flood protection installations that have been placed at the Gellatly and Casa Loma Boat Launches,” the City says. “Fines can be issued to anyone who tampers with municipal infrastructure or who accesses a space closed due to public safety.”

In Peachland, the 8th Street Boat Launch on Okanagan Lake and the adjacent parking lot, have been reopened for the long weekend. But the Day Wharf, Beach Avenue from 13th Street to Todd Road and Lake Avenue from 13th Street to 14th Street will all remain closed until further notice.

For the very latest information about the high lake levels check out the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre website.

For more information on safe boating practices in flood impacted areas, visit the City of Kelowna website. 

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News from © iNFOnews, 2017