By Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
As the South Okanagan transitions closer to spring, fears of flooding in Oliver are ramping up.
“I’m definitely concerned about this spring’s freshet,” said Area C director Terry Schafer. “I’m already getting complaints about not only the potentiality but the ongoing high water table problems, especially in Willowbrook, Road 6-10 and Island/River Road.”
Schafer said the flood control dike north of McAlpine Bridge is to be repaired soon since it was badly eroded during last year’s freshet.
“It wouldn’t be able to hold the river back if we experienced another event like 2017.”
Island Road resident Ross Merchant informed Schafer about this problem last November. Merchant said the dike behind Living Way Christian Centre had been damaged (three-quarters of the dike for 30 yards).
“From the damage done by the spring high water this year, I do not think the dike could take another high water event,” Merchant said.
Because the snowpack is higher this year (about 130 per cent of normal), the Ministry of Environment is concerned about the flood threat. As a result, ministry officials plan to release more water from Okanagan Lake, but they acknowledge this could erode riverbanks. But staff plan to protect the areas that were heavily damaged last year.
Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes said the lowlands in Oliver are still “totally saturated” from last spring, noting they did not dry out.
“The river is at a big risk for flooding,” he stated during Tuesday’s council meeting.
Schafer said what he learned from their discussion at the board table is that the regional district isn’t proactive with flood mitigation.
“We’re only obliged to respond under our emergency services program to events as they happen…with sandbags, etc.”
The director said they can only hope that proactive measures are put in place by provincial ministries.
“My fingers are crossed,” he said.
Paul Edmonds, the district’s new emergency management program coordinator, has been reviewing last year’s flood events to see where improvements can be made.
“A focus of which will be looking at improving our Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), updating plans and procedures alongside training and exercising EOC staff to be prepared.”
Edmonds said they are preparing themselves by meeting with representatives from the environment ministry to discuss their plans for water level management.
Edmonds also noted they are reviewing their emergency management webpage to share public information more effectively.
He pointed out there will be an emergency management readiness event in April to discuss what can be done to prepare for potential flooding this spring.
Last year numerous properties, including farmland south of Oliver, suffered flooding when local creeks crested their banks. Like the community of Willowbrook, areas between Road 6 to 10 are plagued by inadequate drainage, which residents say is the problem.
