Penticton residents are being urged to prepare for rising water on Okanagan Lake and shoreline property owners are being advised to take measures to protect their property.
The city issued a news release late Tuesday afternoon asking Penticton residents to be ready as water levels on Okanagan Lake continue to rise.
“The city has been working with the province to assess current lake levels and the forecasted rise over the next few days,” said Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) chief Mitch Moroziuk. “Projections indicate a planning threshold of 343,000 metres. Measurements taken this morning indicated that the lake had reached 342.282 metres. By the city’s calculations, it is expected to reach 343.000 metres by Saturday, May 26.”
The city is advising property owners along Lakeshore Drive who experienced water issues last spring to take steps to protect their property.
If draining becomes necessary, property owners are being asked to direct water onto Lakeshore Drive and take care to not create a tripping hazard for people using the sidewalk.
For property owners requiring Disaster Financial Assistance, the deadline for applications is August 2. To learn more, go online and visit www.gov.bc.ca/disasterfinancialassistance.
Starting Wednesday, the City of Penticton is taking steps to protect municipal infrastructure by installing tiger dams, gabion baskets and sandbags across the waterfront from the SS Sicamous to the Okanagan Lake marina.
With crews and equipment working along the lakeshore, members of the public are being asked to follow all signs and directions and to exercise caution.
Access to Okanagan Lake beach will be closed while crews move equipment around.
Traffic may also be interrupted periodically and nearby parking areas will be closed.
High creek flows have deposited wood debris in Okanagan Lake and along the shoreline and the city will be leaving this in place to help mitigate wave action.
Should members of the public have concerns or questions regarding Okanagan Lake water levels, contact Moroziuk at 250-490-2515 or director of public works at 250-490-2543.
