The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) has just received an approved order to begin emergency in-stream work on Windermere Creek to address the build-up of sedimentation at the mouth of the creek, which is causing flooding of the low-lying properties in that area.

“Once we declared a State of Local Emergency and requested approval to undertake emergency in-stream work, we were provided with a list of steps required for approval of this application under the Water Sustainability Act,” said Information Officer Loree Duczek. “We have worked hard to put everything in place to be approved, and this is wonderful news.”

The application requirements included:

• A report from a Qualified Professional outlining both the need for emergency works and the strategy for undertaking the work;

• A plan for appropriate equipment in the creek; and,
• On-site professionals required for start of work.

In anticipation of receiving approval today, a number of steps were taken to ensure the work could begin immediately if an emergency order was approved. The RDEK arranged for a hydro-technical engineer, archaeologist and environmental professional to be on site and all three arrived and were ready this afternoon. The contractor worked as quickly as possible to ready the machine by having it steam cleaned and the fluids replaced with biodegradable hydraulic fluid. The machine was then staged on site this afternoon so it was ready.

“We have all been waiting for this – no one more so than the community members and we are grateful to Water Stewardship and the other agencies and stakeholders for their efforts in approving the order,” added Duczek.

Continued updates and information on the flooding in Windermere Creek will be posted via the RDEK’s email groups, website and social media pages. To sign up for the email notification or the Evacuation Notification Alert system, visit www.rdek.bc.ca.

RDEK

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