High groundwater levels continue to cause flooding havoc across the Central Okanagan, say Central Okanagan Emergency Operation Centre officials.

Brian Beach, City of Kelowna infrastructure delivery manager and EOC operations chief, says the frustration of the massive amounts of groundwater is off-set by the positive preparations for expectant high water flow levels for creeks and streams feeding into Okanagan Lake.

Beach says high water level of ponds along Glenmore Road, landslides along Westside Road and flooding occurring at the base of hills across the regional district such as Kirschner Mountain is due to ground saturation.

Related: Okanagan working overtime to prepare for flooding

91裸聊视频淧eople who have little creeks running through their properties for a couple of weeks a year are seeing a torrent of water coming down those creeks right now,91裸聊视频� said Beach. 91裸聊视频淭hat is a wake-up call for residents of the need to make sure those channels and culverts are not obstructed. Unfortunately, that is the new reality with the high groundwater.91裸聊视频�

On the flooding side, preparations have been underway for weeks at a cost so far of $2 million within the regional district, and that figure is expected to rise.

More than two million sandbags have been filled with the assistance of 160 BC Wildfire Service firefighters, along with stringing out 9.8 kms of Tiger dams and 11 kms of Gabion basket dams.

Those efforts are expected to intensify as the full impact of the freshet descends through the valley watershed to Okanagan Lake.

The Brendan Mine snow pillow recording station has already crested and is starting to fall, while snow pillows at higher elevations have not reached peak melting flows, expected to occur within the next three to four weeks.

91裸聊视频淲e are watching the water levels on a daily basis and right now we see a bit of a problem with the rising level of Duck Lake and threatening high water issues along Middle Vernon Creek in through Winfield which we are addressing with our provincial crews,91裸聊视频� Beach said.

91裸聊视频淲e are also working with the Okanagan Indian Band on this as some of that is on their territory. Other than that, right now we are in good shape.91裸聊视频�

Beach said their fingers are crossed that the current weather trend91裸聊视频攏o precipitation, cooler nights, mid-to high-20s C day temperatures91裸聊视频攚ill continue over the next month.

91裸聊视频淲e are better prepared than last year because we can see what91裸聊视频檚 coming, but if we get a lot of rain and it all comes down at once I91裸聊视频檓 not sure if we can ever be prepared for that,91裸聊视频� he said.

Beach reiterated the responsibility that falls on homeowners to protect their own properties, as the EOC91裸聊视频檚 mandate lies in protecting public infrastructure such as roads and utilities.

91裸聊视频淭here has been some benefit in our preparations along Mill Creek that residents see protection placed on their properties because of concerns for their yards flooding and water spilling onto the roads,91裸聊视频� Beach said.

91裸聊视频淏ut we are seeing an uptake of people picking up sandbags. We all know the potential for flooding but sometimes until you see it first-hand it doesn91裸聊视频檛 hit home. But you see the flooding in Oliver and Tulameen and that should serve as a warning of what91裸聊视频檚 potentially coming.91裸聊视频�

He added the controversy about the removal of willow trees along Mill Creek next to Parkinson Recreation Centre was done with the assistance of arborists and government ministry approvals.

91裸聊视频淪ome people were upset about that but you have to realize that while those big willows trees look nice, they are in essence a weed tree, they clog waterways, they rot and fall into creeks and become a flood hazard,91裸聊视频� Beach said.

91裸聊视频淭he concern in that area becomes if the channel is blocked, and flooding occurs it could cause problems along the highway. Those willows will be replaced with a better species of trees, set back further from the creek shoreline, and will look better than ever in no time.91裸聊视频�

To report a typo, email:
newstips@kelownacapnews.com.

newstips@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .