Pumps are releasing up to 5,000 gallons of water per minute from Park Rill Creek oxbows into the Okanagan River Channel in rural Oliver to help with flood mitigation.
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen said the installation of the two pumps at lower Island Way Road have increased the amount of water that can be emptied directly into the river channel. According to a news release from the RDOS, the pumps began operating at 9 a.m. on Wednesday (April 25) morning and water levels in the Park Rill Creek oxbows have started dropping approximately two centimetres per hour.
Related: Public meeting on Oliver flooding protection plan
The pumps are part of a larger plan to direct the water from the Sportsmens Bowl area along the Sportsmens Bowl Road, underneath Highway 97 and into the oxbows where it can be pumped into the Okanagan River Channel.
Further plans to reduce restrictions in the creek to further increase the flow of water to the channel will be revealed at a public information event tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the Oliver Community Centre (6359 Park Dr.).
Residents currently on evacuation order will remain so until further notice and those areas on evacuation alert should continue to be ready to evacuate should conditions deteriorate.
The regional district is also working on plans to redirect overland water flows in other areas of Willowbrook and an assessment of the needs at Goldtau Road will be completed today.