Flood Risk Low to Moderate Says Expert
Friday, January 20, 2012 @ 1:43 PM
Ice build up, looking downstream from east of the Cameron Street Bridge
Prince George, B.C.- Although the Nechako River has risen and the ice is piling up, the Provincial Ministry of the Environment’s Senior Flood Hazard Officer, says there is good news in the Nechako’s flow rate at Isle Pierre.
Lyle Larson says the flow rate at Isle Pierre is about 141 cubic meters per second. That’s about 100 cubic meters per second lower than the flows witnessed during the ice jam flooding of 2007 and 2008. He says there is no information that would suggest Rio Tinto Alcan plans to increase their release of water from the reservoir to impact that flow rate.
“Historically, we haven’t had any ice jam flooding when levels are that low, but you never know, Mother Nature could throw us a curve” says Larson.
Larson says standing at the Nechako River boat launch this morning, “You could literally see the water rising.” The river rose between 1 ½ to 2 meters in a 24 hour period. The ice jam started to form yesterday afternoon, and is now backed up to about the John Hart Bridge, but the water flow is low enough that Larson says he would consider the risk of flood “low to moderate”.
“We will see some milder temperatures on the weekend” says Larson “That will cause the ice to soften up and there will be some shifting, so there will be fluctuating water levels over the weekend.” He says while it is possible the river could reach near “bank full levels” he does not anticipate the Nechako will spill over its banks. But adds, you just never know what Mother Nature will send your way.
In the meantime, the City has closed access to Cottonwood Island Park , and parts of the Heritage River Trails from the Cameron Street Bridge to Fort George Park.
The closure will remain in place until further notice.
The City is monitoring the situation and has advised those residents normally impacted by flooding about the situation.
The City will issue updates throughout the weekend should there be any changes.
Comments
A little dredging a few years ago would solve this problem
Yes a ltttle dredging would have solved this problem, but oh know the Greenies want to save the fishy in the water from swimming thru murky water.
How much are these bleeding hearts costing us.
How can you tell an expert is wrong… Their lips are moving..
It would be smart for the city to be doing some emergency management mobilization and not be taking this experts advice on face value. (if they havent done this already.)
How much are these bleeding hearts costing us, just look at the carbon tax on your heating bill and vehicle fuel bill. A tax on an unproven fast unavailing scam. Thanks Andrew Weaver for your incompetent science.
Of course the fish cops or whoever had a hayday on this topic, but meanwhile our river continues to flood every time. Just think of the crap that gets washed into the river. This situation I believe is worse in the long run if we do nothing.
One day it WILL flood and the biggest regret would be not dredging it
Memo to the EXPERTS at city hall…. Turn on your computer and go to Google Earth. Zoom into the confluence of the Nechako and Fraser rivers. THERE IS NO DEPTH TO THE WATER. IT IS FULL OF SILT AND THERE IS NO PLACE FOR THE WATER TO GO IN THE WINTER WHEN THE ICE BUILDS UP. It is a no brainer. DREDGE THE RIVER!!! Anyone that does not see this as a solution is a complete idiot. When your bathtub starts to overflow with water,most people pull the plug. The IDIOTS at city hall would do a study and then decide to build the sides higher. The silt is acting like a plug by not letting the water flow. DO YOU GET IT. Sadly I don’t think so. The solution is too easy for an EXPERT to comprehend.
This spring/summer DREDGE the river!!!!!!!
Enough is enough.
The definition of an expert is: Ex… a has been, Spurt is a drip under pressure.
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