Residents along Nicola Lake are asked to take steps to protect their properties from localized flooding, expected to occur later this week.

The public is being asked to prepare for localized flooding as water levels in Nicola Lake and river rise due to increased snowmelt and higher than normal rain levels throughout April.

Under the BC Rural Dividend, the Province is providing $60,000 in new grants to the Fraser Nicola region.

The Province is providing over $677,000 in new grants to help six communities in the Fraser-Nicola region diversify and strengthen their economies, Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart announced.

Despite normal flows for many streams and Level 1 drought conditions elsewhere within the Nicola region, low flows in the Coldwater River system are nearing Level 4, or “extremely dry,” drought conditions.

The public is asked to exercise caution and prepare for localized flooding as water levels in Nicola Lake and river and surrounding streams increase due to rapid snowmelt and recent high temperatures.

Smoke from a series of small, controlled spot fires may be visible from communities in the Merritt area and the Coquihalla Highway on Wednesday, Sept. 9.

To assist spawning salmon, the Province has released a pulse of water from storage into the Nicola River.