Above the rushing sound of the water, the deep thunder of large boulders knocking into each other could be heard as they passed by in the violent flow of muddy Mission Creek.
At first, I couldn’t figure out what that clunking sound was, because normally you would not hear the sound of huge rocks hitting each other unless big earth-moving equipment was at work.
But, this wasn’t heavy machinery moving these boulders, it was the force of the water which had risen in the river that is mis-named Mission Creek, until it was spilling over its banks and into the undergrowth on either side.
And, this was upstream from where a number of normally-small creeks would enter Mission Creek and add even more force and quantity of water to the flows in what is normally a fairly placid body of water.
But, heavy rains and melting snow have swollen the creek in the past week until it reached what is believed to be record high flows over the past weekend, and even though the creek’s level has dropped, there’s no end in sight.
More rain and showers fell over the weekend, and there’s still lots of snow at high elevations around the valley waiting to melt and run off into Okanagan Lake. The lake is expected to rise higher than its target level this year, although perhaps not as high as last year, which will mean localized flooding from that source as well.
Last week, the bridge over KLO Creek carrying McCulloch Road was closed because of damage to one of its abutments, and that has inconvenienced not only the residents who live beyond that bridge, but also everyone wishing to reach Myra Canyon from the Myra end.
Volunteers with the Myra Canyon Trestle Restoration Society planned to clear three slides off the Trans Canada Trail through the canyon over the weekend, and they had to use the longer route in, up June Springs Road to Little White Forest Service Road, and into the canyon through the old Ruth Station.
Luckily, board member Ken Campbell was up there last Thursday and said highways crews were grading the Little White Forest Service Road so it shouldn’t be in bad shape for those wishing to access the canyon, until the Myra Forest Service Road is again accessible from Kelowna.
The society held its annual general meeting recently, and Campbell says it was well-attended and resulted in some new volunteers, which will be helpful when it comes to the maintenance work that needs to be done on the trail.
All the board members were re-elected by acclamation, including Denis Davis as president, Vern Merwin as vice-president, Maury Williams as secretary and Karen Merwin as treasurer.
The Friends of Fintry also held their annual general meeting last weekend, and added five new directors to their board: Sandy and Duncan Anderson, Gretchen Aird Dawson and Linda and Maury Williams. Michael Berry will remain as president with Michael Recknell as vice-president.
