Floaters starting to enjoy Shuswap River

As water levels continue to drop in the Enderby River, the Shuswap River Ambassadors says people are grabbing their tubes and hitting float.

The Shuswap River’s (also known as the Enderby River) water levels have dropped seven inches in the past three days, but it is 1.5 feet higher than average, according to the Shuswap River Ambassadors Facebook page. The water is currently 3.9 feet high, according to the ambassadors' Facebook post. The average for the past two years has been two feet or below, according to the ambassadors Facebook message.

The water temperature has warmed up to 20 degrees, which is average for this time of year.

"We start to see more recreational river users on inflatables when the water levels hit three to four feet on the depth marker. With the warmer weather people start to go on the river although it is still higher than average for this time of year," according to a Facebook message from the ambassadors.

The ambassadors recommend that if you go on the river:

Don't leave trash behind
Check float times and launch locations (do not float Enderby to Grindrod)
Do not park on the road, if the designated parking area is full please go somewhere else (tickets are issued)
Bring life jackets/ PFDs
Plan your ride, there is no taxi or shuttle
If you have open alcohol on the river you can be fined
Do no tie together, if you get caught on a log or sweeper it can be very dangerous
Stay off private property
Check weather conditions

Float times:

Belvedere to Tuey – one to 1.5 hours
Eby's to Belvedere – 2.5 to three hours
Trinity to Belvedere – 3.5 to four hours

The Shuswap River Ambassadors do not open or close the river, but provide recommendations on recreational river activities based on the speed and height of the waters. The river is also never classified as safe and will always have hazards.

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