Warmer weather is rapidly melting this year’s high snow pack and the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) is asking residents to be watchful of their local creeks for debris or blockages.
Water washing down from the hills raises the potential of debris floods in local creeks and can block culverts, divert water and cause overland flooding.
”After several days of warmer weather, creeks are at seasonally high levels. Banks of creeks are saturated making them easier to wash out,” Mark Woods, RDOS Director of Emergency Operations, said in a press release.
“Please exercise caution when near waterways; to stay safe, a 10 meter setback is recommended. Also, due to groundwater saturation, what appears to be stable ground may be dangerously compromised and rapidly destabilize underfoot.”
Homes, properties, businesses and agricultural areas can be damaged and people, pets and livestock can be put at risk, the RDOS says.
If residents see a creek moving larger branches, trees or boulders they are asked to contact the RDOS Emergency Operations Centre at 250-490-4225. Blocked culverts or bridges that are compromised can be reported to Argo Road Maintenance at 250-493-6969 or 1-800-663-7623
Any dramatic change in creek flow, either excellerated flow with debris or a sudden stoppage of flow can indicate an escalating situation upstream.
The RDOS says that it is important that residents who live on or adjacent to streams observe and report any uncharacteristic changes in flows, so professionals can be dispatched to assess and mitigate the situation for public safety.
