UPDATE: Mission Park Greenway open again following flood damage repair.
The Kelowna area is being hard by recent heavy rain and a quick melting snowpack.
Properties near Mill and Mission creeks continue to deal with severe flooding Monday, as water levels continue to rise.
Sections of the Mission Creek Greenway were closed late Sunday, but re-opened at 3 p.m. Monday following repairs to areas damaged by high creek levels.
“There are a few sections along the creek where the bank has been eroded from yesterday’s rising water. These have been fenced off and for their safety we ask Greenway users to stay out of any fenced off and closed areas. We also continue to encourage all visitors using creek-side trails in any Regional Park to remain alert for possible rapid, unexpected increases in water levels and flows while the runoff continues. ,” says Bruce Smith, communications officer for the Central Okanagan Regional District.
Caution is being advised for those using Phase 1 of the Greenway from Lakeshore to Mission Creek Park, as banks continue to show instability due to the rising water levels.
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The Greenway trail underpass at Casorso Road remains closed, as is the Gordon Drive pedestrian underpass.
The flow of Mission Creek has decreased slightly from an earlier peak of 90 cubic metres per second, which is close to the all-time peak flow for the creek, according to Smith.
At that flow rate, an Olympic sized swimming pool would fill in less than half a minute, said Smith in a press release issued Sunday.
Radant Road residents living near Lakeshore Road have been sandbagging to protect their properties.
Bulman Road, Totom Road and Adams Road areas are all flooded as Mill Creek continues to spill its banks.
City of Kelowna crews have sandbagged portions of Enterprise Way near Commerce Avenue to keep waters from the main roadway.
In East Kelowna and the Black Mountain area, road contractors are addressing issues at Dave’s Creek as it floods Goudie Road.
Short’s Creek in Fintry, north of West Kelowna along Okanagan Lake is being assessed for erosion concern and high creek flow.
Okanagan Lake remains below full pool, but is forecast to peak late this week or next weekend. Recreational boaters are reminded to proceed cautiously as the flooding has filled Okanagan Lake with large trees and logs washed downstream.
More information about preparing for flooding can be obtained at the regional district website http://www.cordemergency.ca and the Provincial Emergency Management website pep.bc.ca/floods/preparedness.html .
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