North Okanagan

North Okanagan aerials June 15, 2012

Photo: Contributed - David Cooper

Shuswap River on the flood danger list. Photo taken for Castanet by David Cooper on June 15.

Photo: Contributed - David Cooper

Otter Lake is one of the lakes on flood watch. Taken for Castanet by David Cooper on June 15.

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The BC River Forecast Centre has upgraded its Flood watch for the Shuswap river to a flood warning. 

They says that the Shuswap Lake level can be expected to rise another 40 cm before cresting.  

Shuswap Lake is presently registering 348.760 meters and peaking of the Lake is estimated to occur in approximately 10 days.   

The Shuswap Lake continues to rise and current data is forecasting a one in 20 year lake level or 349.210 metres.

The short dry spell the area experienced helped to lower creek and river levels however recent rainfall has increased levels sharply.

Effective Friday, June 15, it was determined that flooding of low level sites along Mara and Shuswap Lakes was occurring and imminent flooding due to sharp increases in river levels would occur in other areas.

The Provincial Government has made available at government expense a supply of sandbags and sand at the following locations:

• Celista - Gem Gravel
• Sorrento - Sorrento Parts and Service
• Seymour Arm - Contact the Seymour Arm Community Association
• Falkland - Falkland Fairgrounds beside Bolean Creek Bridge
• Swansea Point - Oxford Road Beach Access Point
• City of Salmon Arm - Public Works Yard
• District of Sicamous - Public Works Yard

Parents are encouraged to keep children and pets away from watercourses at this time.  Banks will be slippery and potentially unstable due to the erosive qualities of fast-flowing water.

Meanhwile the High Streamflow Advisory is still in effect for the Okanagan (including North Okanagan and Mission Creek)

For flood risk info and preparedness tips, please visit the Pep BC website. 

Obtain real-time lake levels by visiting Environment Canada's Wateroffice website.

To report a serious flood situation that may endanger life safety or necessitate an emergency evacuation, call Emergency Management BC at 1-800-663-3456.