Lakeshore property owners around the Okanagan Valley are being warned to protect their shorelines and docks as waterways will exceed flood levels in the next two weeks.
Rain in the forecast could increase all Okanagan area lake levels, but so could sunshine and warm temperatures.
Water levels are guaranteed to rise over the next two weeks, according to BC Provincial Government monitors. But what’s not certain is how high the water will get and how fast peak levels will be reached.
Despite the controlled release of waters into Skaha and Osoyoos Lakes through the dam and channeling system, the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources says Okanagan Lake will rise above full pool by next week.
Okanagan Lake is currently rising about 2cm per day and is only 8cm below full pool.
With the managed release of water from Okanagan Lake increasing flows into the Okanagan River Channel, Osoyoos Lake is already reaching its peak level, 278.7 metres.
The Ministry is working with the Washington State department of Ecology to minimize the flooding on Osoyoos Lake by releasing water into the Okanogan River at Oroville.
The snowpack in the region is higher than normal. Heavy rains have combined with run-off to create flooding around the region.
Dikes and sandbagging have been ongoing in Kelowna near Mission Creek to prevent damage to homes and business on Lakeshore Road.
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