Docks on Okanagan Lake are under water due to high water levels.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Rose Sexsmith
June 13, 2017 - 4:46 PM
CENTRAL OKANAGAN - More than a month into the flooding some areas are starting to see some relief. However, officials are advising residents the threat is not over yet.
Officials with the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre says even with "promising lake level readings," it will be several weeks before sandbag walls, bladder dams and other flood protection measures can be removed.
Crews can be seen relocating some of the sandbags and protective equipment to areas where further protection is needed.
Lake levels may fluctuate up and down, and ground water may continue to increase for a period of time so a small lake level drop may not indicate the peak has been reached, according to a release from the Emergency Operations Centre.
As of 5:25 a.m. today, June 13, Okanagan Lake was at 343.237 metres above sea level, down three millimetres from Monday morning. That level is 73 centimetres above what is considered optimal lake level.
Kalamalka Lake is 72 centimetres above its’ optimal lake level, currently sitting at 392.423 metres above sea level up 1.4 centimetres from yesterday’s level of 392.409.
With cooler temperatures and a dwindling snow pack, the main variable in flooding is weather, Emergency Operations officials say.
Plans for flooding recovery and debris removal are expected to come within the next few days.
For the very latest information on flooding go to the Emergency Operations website.
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