We need to ask who let the floods happen?

June, and the dust begins to settle on the B.C. provincial election. Kelowna residents watch this with a wary eye while also watching Okanagan Lake continue to rise.

Just as the winds affect water levels along all of the Okanagan Lake shore, it is sure that even the slightest breeze could produce a tornado from provincial election results.

This time, the polls were mostly correct with 43 Liberals, 41 New Democrats, and three Greens elected to the legislature. The Greens and NDP have agreed to a shaky alliance.

Incidentally, proportional representation would have produced the same tie for the major parties, with fewer seats for each and a lot more seats for the Greens.

Most Kelowna residents are more concerned with the continuing rise of Okanagan Lake and the loss of access to many beaches and parks. It may still be a month or more before adequate clean up is completed.

Many residents wonder how in the world this has happened, with all our modern computerized abilities to judge the height of the lake, and to release adequate water early enough to prevent flooding.

For example, the snow pillow that measures the level of snow in upper Mission Creek near the Greystokes area was not even close to the maximum this winter. This pillow seems to show the higher-up melt coming out later and much faster than usual.

Surely, this should have been enough warning to begin to let out more water from Okanagan Lake earlier. This snow/water equivalent was certainly above historical average, but hardly even close to a record. Was someone who controls the dams monitoring this daily?

Area residents like to talk about the amount of snow there still is at Big White, but it is to be noted that this is a different drainage.

Big White drains into the West Kettle river. Mission Creek is mainly affected by the Greystokes Park area and side drainage from creeks like Belgo and Hydraulic.

In total frustration, lakeshore residents must be casting around for someone human to blame. They could begin by asking for the actual flood-gate statistics on the Okanagan River dams.

When were they opened more than usual, and by how much? Does the river dam system need to be changed or is there human fault here?

It is definitely time to ask for public inquiry meetings in Penticton, Kelowna and Vernon. I am sure even the smaller communities would like to express their concerns,

You can pass the buck to Mother Nature and the weather, but that will not solve anything.

We must prepare for more of this serious type of flooding as global warming continues to cause weird weather.

For example, when it began pouring rain in early May, and it was predicted for all of the month, were the floodgates now opened to the maximum? The public deserves this information.

Joe Rich residents have continuously expressed concern over decades of massive clearcut logging in the upper headwaters of Mission Creek.

Many of these areas are slow at recovering because of elevation and do not hold back as much runoff, now.

The logging companies have exhausted this area and are now moving down the steep canyon walls right next to Joe Rich residences.

Even people’s wells can be affected. A few years back Mission Creek tore up its banks so badly, that a house was flushed under the Mission Creek bridge, septic tank, fuel tank, and all. The government ministries were aware of this, but did nothing. There have been numerous studies on Mission Creek, but few that have recommended some significant restoration measures. It is past time that the city and the regional district were more involved, asking for provincial government help.

A recent study told logging companies that they should be slowing down cutting in the whole Mission Creek watershed. They may be trying, but it is not monitored in any way.

Meanwhile, we all are concerned with destruction of beautiful beaches and our parks heritage. Do your best to help out a neighbour whenever possible. But realize that unless significant preventative measures are taken very soon, this could all easily happen again. Maybe even with a new election? Reg Volk writes on politics and local issues. Email: regvolk@shaw.ca.