Okanagan Indian Band builds up defences to protect Lakeshore Road in Vernon

VERNON – The Okanagan Indian Band is reinforcing defences at the northern end of the lake.

On Friday, June 2, public works staff, alongside forestry crews, installed a wall of sandbags along Kin Beach to protect Lakeshore Road and the adjacent trailer park.

The road is closed to traffic until 6 p.m. and will reopen over the weekend, according to a release from the band. Work will resume Monday, June 5, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. until the job is complete.

Crews will be installing what’s known as a gabion wall as far as Vernon Creek, where the reserve land ends and becomes the City of Vernon.

“The Okanagan Indian Band Emergency Operations Centre echoes local authority’s communications to all residents, visitors and their pets to stay off the flood protection measures. Jumping or walking on gabions or all water dam reinforcements is a public safety concern and could damage or undermine the device, causing ruptures and significant water flows,” the band says.

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