Despite last night’s waves, Kelowna residents are dealing with the high waters of Okanagan Lake.
“The big thing is the ground water rising up right now,” said Manhattan Avenue resident Chuck Watt, adding the bladder damn set up by the City of Kelowna has been effective.
The waves had a larger effect on his property last night, he said, as the waves came in from the south.
Watt has a pump that’s been keeping up with the rising waters for the last three weeks. This morning, a log boom was installed along Manhattan Point to provide further protection.
A pump station is being installed along Poplar Point Drive with additional rip-rap (large stones) to protect infrastructure.
“The city and the province have been amazing in this disaster,” said resident Marcy Watt.
The Watt’s house is also built at a higher elevation.
At Manhatten Point, log booms are being installed between existing docks, said public information officer with the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations, Jason Luciw.
“That wave actions like we saw last night, tend to require extra protection,” he said.
Crews from the Emergency Operation Centre will spend a good part of the day Friday monitoring and assessing flood protection structures, shoring up any sections damaged by waves, and installing additional measures as required to protect roads, parks, beaches and infrastructure.
Waves whipped up by strong winds Thursday caused a retaining wall on Highway 97 at Antlers Regional Park to collapse. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will install erosion protection in that area in the days ahead.
Okanagan Lake’s level was at 343.25 metres above sea level Friday morning, one millimetre higher than the day earlier, as measured by Environment and Climate Change Canada. Kalamalka Lake rose three millimetres to 392.440 over the same period.
The River Forecast Centre advises the snow pack in the Mission Creek watershed is less of a risk factor now that it is below 30 per cent and the forecast is for cooler temperatures. In the weeks ahead, attention will focus on how rain and wind events will affect conditions on lakes and creeks.
While committed to responding to the flood risks, Emergency Operations Centre personnel are also planning for the demobilization and recovery period.
In the meantime, residents should keep all flood protection measures in place until the EOC issues information on what actions to take to begin the recovery.
People are reminded to stay off flood protection measures and away from standing water. Jumping or walking on gabions or water dams is a public safety concern and could damage or undermine the device causing ruptures and significant water flows.
All other evacuation alerts and orders remain in effect. Check out the map and search by address to determine if an area is under alert or order, or to find the closest sand and sandbag locations.
For more information, visit the CORD website, sign up for e-updates or call the information line at 250-469-8490.