Boat launches

Current projections are it could rise to 343.6 metres above sea level, causing flooding along many shoreline areas. Wakes produced by power boats can cause more shoreline erosion than would otherwise occur. Transport Canada sets a marine speed limit for vessels of 10 km/h within 30 metres of any lake in B.C.

“We’re asking people to use common sense and show respect for the high water levels that we’re experiencing now on all our lakes,” Smith said.

Pritchard Park and Pebble Beach Park, both on the shore of Okanagan Lake, have been closed to the public by the City of West Kelowna.

“All lakefront parks and public beach accesses in the community have been sandbagged, and park users are asked not to damage or remove flood mitigation measures,” city spokeswoman Kirsten Jones said.

“Visitors (to 27 beach accesses that have been sandbagged) are advised that launching of non-motorized boats may be difficult and are encouraged to use motorized boat launches instead,” Jones said.

While the threat of flooding along the shoreline of Okanagan Lake continued to grow this week, it dropped in other parts of the area that were affected by flooding last week. There, evacuation orders and alerts gradually are being rescinded, and more people were allowed to return home Wednesday. Evacuation orders were rescinded for all properties affected by flooding on Okanagan Indian band Reserve No 7.