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Summerland beaches closed, dikes erected as lake rises

Docks underwater, wharves beginning to break up under high water level
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Patricia Campagnaro, with help from friends and neighbours, sets up a sandbag dike to protect her lakefront property in Trout Creek.

Beaches in Summerland have been closed to the public as the water level in Okanagan Lake continues to rise.

Rotary Beach was closed to the public on Tuesday afternoon, and the walking trail along the lakefront has also been closed.

The public docks at Rotary Beach are now underwater and wharves are beginning to break up

A tiger dam has been erected at Powell Beach.

Elsewhere along the lakefront, residents and community volunteers have been working to erect sandbag dikes to protect against the rising lake level.

Linda Tynan, chief administrative officer for Summerland, said the water level in Okanagan Lake had risen to 342.94 metres by Wednesday afternoon, close to the predicted maximum capacity of 343.05 metres.

Overnight on Tuesday to Wednesday morning, a storm caused damage near the water.

“In some ways, Summerland got off relatively easy, compared to other lakefront municipalities,” Tynan said.

Still, the effects of the rising lake levels have been noticeable.

“Private property is where most of the damage has occurred,” she said.

The water level in the lake is expected to remain high for most of the summer.

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The docks at Rotary Beach in Summerland are covered by water and are now breaking apart.
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Rotary Pier in Summerland is now closed to the public as the water level in Okanagan Lake continues to rise.


John Arendt

About the Author: John Arendt

John Arendt has worked as a journalist for more than 30 years. He has a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Journalism degree from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute.
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