The International Osoyoos Lake Board of Control is planning to keep the levels as high as possible and as long as possible due to ongoing drought conditions. 

The water level in the lake peaked at 912.44 feet on May 22, and as of June 16 stood at 912.18 feet or 278.03 metres.

According to the board, the snow pack had fully melted at lower elevations a month earlier than usual, while higher elevations stayed snowy due to a cooler-than-usual May. 

Now, the freshet has largely tapered off, as the Okanagan and Similkameen basin’s low snow levels, between 49-86 percent and 32-62 percent of normal conditions respectively, have melted. 

In April, the flow forecast for the Similkameen River at Nighthawk and the forecasted net inflow of Okanagan Lake for April-July were both expected to be at levels low enough for a drought declaration.

The required flow for the Similkameen River is 1,230,000 megalitres under the International Joint Commission Order of Approval, and the forecast has it at 812,000 megalitres for April-July.