Water, fire risk both high
In a confounding contradiction of circumstances, there continues to be surplus of water in the Okanagan, yet the wildfire hazard is high.
Record flooding caused by the rapid melt of ample snowpack and heavy spring rain has impacted the Valley’s lakes, rivers and creeks for weeks now.
But, new to the mix is several days of hot, dry weather that’s pushed the fire hazard to high.
That means, in addition to not being able to fully enjoy Okanagan Lake and missing out on Canada Day fireworks in Kelowna because flood protection is still in place in waterfront parks, you also have to be aware of campfire restrictions.
Campfires are never allowed in municipal or regional parks and local governments are reiterating that fact as the fire hazard spikes.
There’s not a campfire ban in provincial parks yet, but you are told to be careful with any blaze and make sure all fires are put out completely.
In case you want to set off your own pyrotechnics in the absence of Kelowna’s Canada Day fireworks, local fire departments are letting everyone know they’ll need a permit to do so.
Such permits are almost impossible to get for the average person and it’s way too late anyway for this Canada Day.
The permit application is 11 pages long, has to be submitted to the fire department two weeks before you set off any flares, rockets or Catherine Wheels, you have to have more than a hectare of land, you have to have a fireworks supervisor or pyrotechnics certification, have a fire prevention strategy and $5 million insurance.
So, that puts an end to any spontaneous firework plans you may be hatching.
Even if there won’t be fireworks, there’s still lots of ways to celebrate Canada’s sesquicentennial, such as the day-long events in downtown Kelowna that include everything from free cake and ethnic food and dancing to a free City of Kelowna Band concert.
Conditions in Okanagan Lake are improving, but it’s still flooded.
From Thursday to Friday, the level of the lake dropped 1.5 centimetres to 343.037 metres above sea level. That’s still 55 cm above full pool. It means flood prevention measure are still in place on many stretches of lakeshore, and boaters are asked to keep to a one-foot wake and only then in the middle of the lake so resulting waves don’t damage the foreshore.
However, some beaches are being reopened as sandbags and aquadams are removed from where they are no longer needed.
In Kelowna that means the north end of City Park beach, Waterfront Park, Boyce-Gyro, Cedar Creek, Sarsons, Paul’s Tomb and Lochview are now available to sunbathers and swimmers.
Beach water quality at all these locations have been tested and results are coming back good.
However, there’s still probably wood debris as clean up continues and swimmers should watch out for floating and submerged junk.
The city points out canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding are great non-wake ways to enjoy the lake.
The tunnel under William R. Bennett Bridge will reopen today, but the bridge at Lake Avenue remains closed.
As power is still turned off at City Park, it and the tunnel will continue to close at dark.
Three boat launches have reopened at Cook Road, Cedar Creek Park and Water Street.
Property owners along creeks and lakes should only remove sandbags when its safe to do so.
And never empty sandbags into the lake, creek, beach or wetland.
Take them back to depots at the Cook Road Boat Launch, Apple Bowl parking lot or Beasley Park in Winfield.
Most information about flooding, the aftermath and what is and isn’t open and-or allow is at CORDEmergency.ca.