Riot Tinto Alcan Increases Flow Into Nechako by 50%
Nechako River , looking west from Cottonwood Island Park -Photo 250News
Prince George, B.C. – Rio Tinto (Alcan) has announced that it has begun to increase the discharge from the Skins Lake spillway into the Nechako River.
The company made the announcement on February 11th saying it will increase the discharge from 30 cubic metres (1077 cubic feet) to 45 cubic metres (1589 cubic feet) because of a snow pack that is estimated to be 115% of the long term average.
On November 7th ,2007 Alcan increased the discharge from the spillway to 85 cubic metres, ( 3000) cubic feet . It was never determined that the increased water flow was responsible for the flood that occurred along the Nechako River on December 11th-2007, however, flooding did occur in both Vanderhoof and Prince George after the temperatures plummeted and ice jammed in both cities forcing water levels to rise.
Depending on the ice conditions on the Nechako, it normally takes about 10 to 12 days for the river to show an increase in the flows.
Unlike the Nechako, the Fraser River is not a regulated river, but the early thaw and heavy rain have caused that river to rise over the past week.
(at right, the confluence of the Nechako and Fraser )
At the gauge at South Fort, the level on the Fraser has risen three quarters of a meter ( about 2.5 feet) since February 11th. On that day, the level of the Fraser was registered at 4.10 meters (13.45 feet), the most recent level was yesterday at 4.85 meters, (15.91 feet).
Those who frequent the shoreline near the confluence of the two rivers, say that while they could have walked to Goat Island last week, they would definitely have to have a boat or swim for it now.
Comments
I don’t think we need to be worried about another ice jam.
Interesting. The city looked a putting is some type of wall to prevent flooding from happening again, and Rio Tino controlled the flow of water. Does it not follow, if Rio Tinto wants to control the flow of the water on the Nechako they should be putting in the wall or at least have insurance to cover the damage of a flood.
The flow of water in the Nechako is no longer and act of god but and act of water release by Rio Tinto.
Just thinking out loud
and = an
lol
I was kind of wondering about that myself PGGUYY, they can release whenever they choose but those downstream have zero control over it except to pay to clean up the mess
“It was never determined that the increased water flow was responsible for the flood that occurred along the Nechako River on December 11th-2007, however, flooding did occur in both Vanderhoof and Prince George after the temperatures plummeted and ice jammed in both cities forcing water levels to rise.”
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Did Worksafe BC have anything to do with the investigation?
That’s how the BC government rolls slinky. Taking care of business!
PGGUYY
Men do not do “lol”.
I was wrong, PGGUYY
Did a “lol”. Couldn’t help it.
Received my Utility bill today: $620.59!
Your utility bill is $620.59 only if you pay it late. If you pay it on time it is $564.26, however this is still an increase of $133.08 per year.
Huge increase in my opinion.
All rio tinto has to do is inform people of the increase in flow.. That’s it.. Even though this stirs up the river so much it increase organics etc the the Pulpmills, husky and evryone else who gets their water from nechako. So they all have to spend extra to clean this water up so they can use it.. That’s just to bad.. But rio tinto gets away with it, every year
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