Most British Columbia regions braced for flooding can rest assured now that the worst of the heavy rainfall is behind them, but there's still concern about rising water levels in the lower Fraser River in and around Hope, says a River Forecast Centre official.

Dave Campbell said Thursday that lakes, particularly in the Thompson River basin, have hit their peak and are starting to decline.

But evacuation orders are still in place for 66 residents in the Two Mile subdivision of the Shuswap town of Sicamous, east of Kamloops.

Across the province, a total of 135 people remain out of their homes, while 2,200 others are on alert to leave at a moment's notice.

Flood warnings and watches have been downgraded on many other waterways, including several in the Columbia and Kootenay regions.

Chris Duffy, executive director of emergency co-ordination for Emergency Management BC, said five regional emergency centres are still open -- in Kamloops, Terrace, Prince George, Surrey and Nelson.

Ken Meeks, emergency response officer for the Environment Ministry, said a contractor has been retained to address poor mooring conditions on several vessels tethered together in the community of Silverdale, west of Mission, B.C.

Moored vessels a concern

Fast-flowing flood waters in the Fraser River means the boats could be in danger of making an unexpected voyage and endangering infrastructure.

Some of the vessels stretch upwards of 100 metres in length, with the entire convoy weighing 7,000 tonnes. They include the retired Queen of Sidney, a ship that was once part of the BC Ferries fleet.

Meeks said the contractor has begun mobilizing equipment to deal with the moorings, which were assessed late Wednesday by master mariner Capt. Phillip Nelson after an initial visit last weekend.

A decommissioned B.C. ferry is one of several vessels causing concern as waters rise on the lower Fraser River. (CBC)

"I was surprised to see the lack of moorings," Nelson said Thursday.

"All we could see were two or three mooring lines and an anchor cable. These disappeared under the water and it was difficult to see what they were made fast to." Nelson said he's informed the contractor that five steel piles need to be driven into the river bed to secure the Queen of Sidney.

"My recommendations were to tidy up the whole mess and to try and get some permanent moorings for the other vessels."