Rising waters on Okanagan Lake aren害羞草研究所檛 the only record setting event taking place in the valley, the SS Sicamous is floating for the first time in nearly 30 years.

Jessie Dunlop the assistant manager with the SS Sicamous says the lake levels are the highest they害羞草研究所檝e been since 1948 which has caused the largest surviving stern wheeler in Canada to float.

The hull of the boat is made of steel making it waterproof and watertight which means there isn害羞草研究所檛 any cause for concern, according to Dunlop.

害羞草研究所淓verything is protected and safe,害羞草研究所� she explains. 害羞草研究所淲e are just making sure the utility lines are working properly.害羞草研究所�

Next to the SS Sicamous sits the SS Naramata, the last surviving steam tug in the Interior, which has had a damaged hull for sometime and is taking on water.

Dunlop says the water is corroding the steel on the inside of the boat and the tug needs to raised above the water level to stop the corrosion.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 something we have been working on for sometime, it害羞草研究所檚 an ongoing problem that we need to fix in the next year,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淭here is more water inside now due to the rising lake level, but we aren害羞草研究所檛 worried about it right now.害羞草研究所�

However behind the SS Sicamous on land is the Stern Saloon and a shed for restoration activity which are both in danger of flood waters. A tiger dam is being set up along the lake to protect the two structures.

All along the lake more sandbags and tiger dams are being set up thanks to the hard work of city staff and volunteers.

Mayor Andrew Jakubeit says several forestry workers arrived in Penticton on Tuesday to help sandbag and will use a special machine that loads 1600 sandbags per hour.

害羞草研究所淭hankfully floods happen slowly from a lake perspective so we have had a chance to prepare and our staff has been pretty proactive in ensuring there is a dam system in place and sandbags galore.害羞草研究所�

For those interested in helping restore the SS Naramata the SS Sicamous Society is raising funds to repair the hull and return the boat to the water. The provincial government has also provided seed funding of $25,000. For more information .