Regional district playing catch-up as flood clean up continues

PENTICTON – Clean up from this year’s flood prevention efforts is well underway in the regional district.

Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen spokesperson Zoe Kirk says 93,000 sandbags are registered for pickup so far.

Kirk says 40 per cent of those sandbags have been picked up to date.

“The smoke, the temperature, and access challenges have made progress a bit slower than originally anticipated, requiring us to alter our schedule to better reflect the reality,” Regional district Parks Coordinator Justin Shuttleworth says.

A new schedule for sandbag pickup will see operations take place during these dates:

• in Naramata, from Aug. 4 to Aug.18
• in rural Summerland from Aug. 17 to 25
• at Red Wing Resort from Aug. 25 to 31

Crews will also be working the same schedule alongside sandbag crews to remove flood debris as well.

Stockpiled sand remaining in neighbourhoods is free for the taking. Please note sand must not end up in the lake or in any water bodies, as it is an offence to dump sand adjacent to or in water bodies.

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