RDOS signs off on South Okanagan flood mapping project

Dale Boyd

Times-Chronicle Staff

A flood mapping and risk assessment project is now in the works for areas hit hard by 2018 flooding north of Oliver. 

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) board voted to award a $96,000 contract to Northwest Hydraulic Consultants at the July 16 meeting. 

The contract includes a flood risk assessment, mapping leading to the design of flood mitigation for Park Rill Creek, Horn Creek and Kearns Creek which flow through rural Oliver from Twin Lakes and Willowbrook and also through Electoral Area I (Skaha West, Kaleden, Apex). 

The flooding in Twin Lakes, Park Rill Creek and the Sportsmen’s Bowl Road area in 2018 “highlighted significant risk to these communities,” reads an RDOS staff report. 

A state of local emergency was in effect in Area C (rural Oliver) for a year to “respond and recover from the effects of freshet,” the staff report states. 

“A regional approach was selected to provide a complete risk assessment to identify vulnerabilities and provide planners with an accurate risk assessment of social, economic and environmental impacts.” 

Alternative Director for Area C, Terry Schafer, cited “nasty” online comments towards the cost of the project — however, board chair Karla Kozakevich noted the B.C. Community Emergency Preparedness Fund is covering the cost.

Schafer added the 2018 flooding was a one-time occurrence and the “only reason Park Rill flooded was because of the dam the government allowed to be drained into Willowbrook,” which fed into Park Rill Creek. 

“That was really a one-off. Not something that is going to happen every year, or every 10 years or every 20 years,” Schafer said. “We’re flooded right now and have been for the last six weeks. It’s because they are emptying out Okanagan Lake and the river is so high we are flooding. It’s got nothing to do with Park Rill Creek.” 

Some directors disagreed, saying the more information the better, especially if the assessments are funded through provincial grants. 

“Without these studies a lot of the times you can’t apply for future funding to get work done. So it is one of those necessary evils,” said Mark Pendergraft, director for Area A (rural Osoyoos).