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Vernon News

Weekend water warning for creeks and streams

Duteau Creek, pictured, is one of the creeks that could rise quickly this weekend. The reservoirs are expected to spill which has prompted a warning from Greater Vernon Water.

VERNON – A warning from Greater Vernon Water as reservoirs are expected to reach capacity and spill their banks over the weekend.

The concern is water levels in streams and creeks will rise very quickly. The swift water will be dangerous and the banks along the waterways will become slippery and could erode.

GVW officials are worried about children and recreational users.

The Village of Lumby has been the victim of rising water on Duteau Creek as recently as June of last year. Water flooded streets and businesses.

Lumby mayor Kevin Acton said at the time he would like to see the Regional District of the North Okanagan use a dam to hold back the floodwaters.

A reading taken at the Duteau Creek Water Reservoirs on May 6 showed they were near capacity.

As well, a lot of snow fell at the higher elevations in the North Okanagan in April.

The snowpack readings for the Okanagan-Kettle Basin, which include Kalamalka Lake, taken on May 1 by the B.C. River Forecast Centre show levels are 128 per cent of normal. On April 1, snowpacks were 97 percent of normal.

Snowpack levels in the South Thompson Basin, which includes the Duteau Creek reservoirs, is at 114 per cent of normal.

Temperatures were cooler in April so there has been a delay in the snow melt this spring.

The River Forecast Centre predicts higher than normal runoff from May to July because the forecast calls for above normal temperatures for the period.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

News from © iNFOnews, 2014
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