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Final flood order rescinded

OKIB lifts final evacuation order as lake levels drop from historic high
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A nearly two-month long evacuation order has finally been lifted for Westside residents following the floods.

The Okanagan Indian Band has rescinded the order (issued June 3) for all properties below the High Road at Louis Estates Road.

“The residents of these properties should exercise care and make their own determination of longer term risk from possible slope failure,” Colleen Marchand, EOC director, states in the notice.

Meanwhile other flood protection efforts remain in place but work is being done to return to normalcy.

To date, there have been more than 9,000 litres of contaminated water collected from various drum barrels collected along the lake. And efforts, by Ram Environmental, continues.

“Work is expected to continue all through August into September,” an OKIB notice reads. “All drum barrels marked with X will be picked up for collection. These drum barrels/totes have been tested for contaminates and are deemed as hazardous. Do not dump these drum barrels/totes into the water and or on land.

Gabion walls at Sandy Beach remain in place and a plan is being developed for removal.

“The beach area is still closed and persons should refrain from entering this area as a dangerous tree assessment still needs to be complete, on trees which pose a threat to public safety.”

For further information contact the OKIB EOC at 250-542-7132.

In other North Westside news, Killiney Beach Community Park remains closed due to flooding. The park and boat launch are not anticipated to open this year due to extensive damage to the dock and erosion of the beach and access road. There is limited vehicle access only for affected waterfront properties.

After historic high water levels of 343.25 metres above sea level were reached on June 8, the level of Okanagan Lake has finally returned to full pool - 342.48 m.