City to close boat launches in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS – The rising water level in the Thompson rivers is forcing the City of Kamloops to close boat launches tonight.

The city is closing the boat launches at Pioneer Park, McArthur Island and Thompson Drive at 10 p.m. today, May 24, due to high river levels, according to a City of Kamloops media release.

“Boating on local rivers is not recommended at this time due to high amounts of debris in the water,” Greg Wightman with the City of Kamloops says in the release.

Last week, the city closed the trail between Riverside Park and Pioneer Park as part of the city’s flood plan response to high water levels, as well as turning off pathway lighting from the Riverside Park pier to the Sandman Centre.

City officials are continuing to monitor river flow information from the B.C. River Forecast Centre.

"At this point, we are expecting to see the rivers rise to approximately the same levels as last year,” Wightman says.

The city is reminding residents in low-lying areas to protect their properties with sandbags. Sand and sandbags can be found at fire halls throughout the city.

For more information on sand and sandbag locations, and sandbagging techniques go here.


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Karen Edwards

Originally from southern Ontario, Karen Edwards moved out west after completing her journalism diploma at Durham College. She first began reporting in northern Alberta for a small town newspaper. The busy two-person newsroom taught Karen the importance of accurate and fast reporting. Now working for iNFO News, she is excited to report in a larger community. Karen has written for all kinds of news, including education, crime and mental health. Her background also includes video journalism and documentary production.