Fraser River Levels Up, But Not Critical

Friday, June 05, 2009 04:25 PM

Prince George, B.C.- It is spring freshet time, and while the Fraser River in Prince George has risen, it is not expected to spill its banks this weekend.

Such is not the case in the northwest.

All eyes are on the water as the Skeena, Nass and Kitsumkalum rivers rise following a rapid snowpack melt. The BC River Forecast Centre Issued Flood Watch advisories for the Skeena, Nass and Kitsumkalum Rivers, and added a High Streamflow Advisory for the Bulkley, Telkwa and Kispiox rivers. It is likely that other rivers in the Skeena valley are experiencing similar conditions.

In Terrace, low lying areas which have suffered through flooding in the past, are seeing the sandbags deployed once more. As of June 1^st the snowpack in the Skeena watershed was 140% of normal and the record temperatures of last week have resulted in a much faster than usual melt.

Bulkley River (at Quick): Currently at a discharge of 520 cubic metres per second (m3/s), below a 2-year return period level. The water level is increasing at about 15 cm/day, and is expected to continue at this rate of rise today and tomorrow. Localized flooding at locations in the Bulkley valley is possible.

Kispiox River (Hazelton). Currently at a discharge of 250 m3/s, below a 2-year return period level. The water level is increasing at about 25 cm/day, and is expected to continue at this rate of rise today and tomorrow. Localized flooding is possible.

Telkwa River (above Tsai Creek): Currently at a discharge of 70 m3/s, below a 2-year return period level. The water level is increasing at about 25 cm/day, and is expected to continue at this rate of rise today and tomorrow. Localized flooding is possible.

Meantime, in Prince George, the Forecast Centre says the Fraser River at South Fort George is still under the 8 meter mark. It was sitting at 7.869 meters today, which is below the critical flood mark of 9.3 meters.

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Posted on Friday, June 05, 2009 04:25 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Palopu on June 6 2009 4:54 PM

The East end of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, Ave at Lower Patricia Blvd are under water. City crews seem to be setting up the pump at the East end of 1st Ave. If the river continues to rise I suspect that we will see water seepage in other areas.

It will be interesting to see if water comes up on the South Side of River Road after all the work the City has done.