Heads up. Email from Transport Canada this morning.
Transport Canada intends to restrict, by way of Interim Order, all non-essential boating from flooded and evacuated areas. The Interim Order is intended to keep boaters out of danger and areas clear for emergency services to perform response operations. Exemptions to these restrictions will only be allowed for essential activities, such as persons involved in emergency response and recovery activities (municipal, Indigenous, provincial and federal government employees), and those whose only access to their property is by boat.
The measures will be in place as long as necessary to protect navigation safety in these unprecedented conditions. The Interim Order will apply to the following geographic areas, maps of which are attached:
City of Merritt: Coldwater River and waters over the floodplains within the limits of the City of Merritt
City of Merritt: Coldwater River, South of the City of Merritt, and waters over the foodplains in the vicinity of Coldwater Road near its intersection with Kane Valley Road
City of Princeton: Similkameen River within the limits of the city of Princeton and waters over the floodplains to the East of the city
Regional District of the Okanagan-Similkameen: Similkameen River and waters over the floodplains along Crowsnest Highway, from South of Hedley to the U.S. border
City of Abbotsford/ City of Chilliwack: Sumas River and the waters over the floodplains on the Sumas Prairies, between McCallum Road, the U.S. border and Vedder River
City of Abbotsford/ City of Chilliwack / District of Hope: Fraser River and its tributaries, including the waters over the neighboring floodplains, from town of Yale to city of Mission
District of Hope: Coquihalla River and the waters over the floodplains in the vicinity of Othello
Village of Lytton: Fraser River and its tributaries, including waters over the neighboring floodplains, from South of the community of Lillooet to South of the village Lytton
Village of Tulameen: Tulameen River and the waters over the floodplains in the vicinity of the village of Tulameen
Nicola River: Nicola River and the waters over the floodplains from the community of Spences Bridge to Spius Creek, West of the City of Merritt
The Interim Order establishes those who can enforce it, including RCMP, local and Indigenous enforcement partners, DFO officers, and others.
These measures were developed to quickly respond to the deteriorating conditions and to protect public safety. We expect it to be published by the weekend.