Riverside Park in Vanderhoof – photo 250News

Prince George, B.C. – The River Forecast  Centre is maintaining its flood watch for :

• Nechako River  from Isle Pierre to the Fraser River
• Nechako River at Vanderhoof and
• Nautley River near Fort Fraser

The good news is the natural levels  on  tributaries that  flow into the Nechako River,  have dropped  over the past week because of  the declining  run off from snowmelt.  That runoff is expected to continue to decline as  snow packs are  nearly depleted.

Although the Nechako River at Vanderhoof  has dropped approximately 10 cm this week and is currently flowing at 654 m³/s  there is little relief in site.  Rio Tinto Alcan continues to  release  500 cubic meters per second meaning the  flow on the Nechako  at  Vanderhoof  will likely hold around the current level  until  Rio Tinto  Alcan  reduces the discharge  later this month.

The  community of Vanderhoof  has done what it can to prepare for  flooding,  and has already spent more than $300 thousand dollars  to shore up  homes  and infrastructure.

( at right, private property  in Vanderhoof surrounded by  water )

The River Forecast Centre says  there is a possibility of isolated showers over the weekend with daily totals up to 5 mm.

Flows on the Nechako River at Isle Pierre  are at 1028 m³/s and have decreased slightly this week. Flows at Isle Pierre are expected to remain around 1020 to 1030 m³/s into next week.

Water levels on the Fraser River at South Fort George are at  hovering around the 8 metre mark and continue to decline.