Flooding on the Nechako ?

Thursday, April 05, 2007 04:01 AM

A meeting set to inform Vanderhoof residents of what they can expect from a surge of water released into the Nechako River is scheduled to take place several days after the first surge of water is expected to hit the community.

The meeting is set for the 11th, more than a week after Alcan started releasing 125 cubic meters of water per second into the Nechako River at the Skins Lake Spillway. That more than doubled the flow into the river in just 24 hours. The day before, the release was under 50cubic meters of water per second.

A similar release in 1997 resulted in flooding along the Nechako in both Vanderhoof and Prince George.

Bob Radloff head of Development Services, for the City of Prince George, says his department was informed through a public bulletin issued on Tuesday the 3rd, , the same day the release of water began. Radloff says his department has been preparing itself for a possible flood from the Fraser (because of high snowpack levels) by stocking sand bags and conducting other necessary work.

No such consultation has been made with the Regional District of Fraser Fort George. Jim Martin, Acting Administrator, says the Regional District will monitor the situation and will try to engage dialogue with Alcan.

One legal expert says that while no one wants a flood, it is his opinion that Alcan would be liable for any damage that occurs to private property. "They got about everything they wanted back in 1950 including the right to flood an area the size of Belgium, but they didn’t get the right to be excluded from their liability under a flood they caused by releasing water." He added, " God does not turn on the tap at the Skins Lake Spillway."

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Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2007 04:01 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: giterdun on April 5 2007 7:51 AM

I THOUGHT ALCAN WAS GOD.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on April 5 2007 7:58 AM

Interesting. Alcan is only allowed to flood a certain area, not the rest of the province?
There you go, an opportunity for the NDP to give Alcan that right in return for a couple more union jobs.

Posted by: giterdun on April 5 2007 8:10 AM

IT'S AN ENGINEERED PLOT FOLKS..
ALCAN IS TRYING TO JUSTIFY RESUMING THE KEMANO 2 PROJECT.THEY WILL MAKE A CASE THAT IF K-2 IS ALLOWED TO PROCEED, THAT WILL ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF DOWN STREAM FLOODING. AND GUESS WHAT? MORE BILLIONS IN THEIR COFFERS. CHECK OUT THEIR REPUTATION IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.NOT NICE PEOPLE I.M.O.

Posted by: bohemian on April 5 2007 8:36 AM

giterdun:

Please stop YELLING.

(turn of the all caps)

Posted by: owl on April 5 2007 8:45 AM

"One legal expert says that while no one wants a flood, it is his opinion that Alcan would be liable for any damage that occurs to private property."

Bingo!!!! .... I agree very much, but am not a legal expert.

I think it is time for a class action if there is any damage. It could be a long trial, and may end up in the Supreme Court of the country, but with Alcan there, that would make a nice public case which could give a lawyer the kind of publicity he/she would not be able to get in any other fashion. They would likely do it on a contingency basis.

Win or loose, it would put them in the public eye frequently and bring in clients.

Posted by: giterdun on April 5 2007 9:21 AM

BOHEMIAN:

MY FINGERS ARE TOO BIG FOR THE SMALL LETTERS. GET A LIFE.

Posted by: owl on April 5 2007 9:22 AM

liposuction
;-)

Posted by: DPJ on April 5 2007 10:01 AM

STOP ARGURING!!! (Caps on purpose)

Posted by: ammonra on April 5 2007 10:48 AM

"will try to engage dialogue with Alcan"

Does he mean he will talk to them?

To YamaDama.... The Liberals are in power now, we've had an election or two since the days you live in. They're the culprits!

Posted by: diplomat on April 5 2007 11:39 AM

"They're the culprits!"

Yes. Of course. Tough job when one has to follow a decade of mismanagement.

Posted by: owl on April 5 2007 11:40 AM

Wht old timers tell me is that the Nechako used to be a very clear running river, much like the Yukon river in Whitehorse. Apparently the silting began since the dam was constructed.

Couple that with what I understand to be greater swings from low to high water flows and associated highter to lower water temperatures, those are habitat changes which would affect all biological life in the water. What the specific effects are, someone else may be able to answer.

One would think that sturgeon are affected by that just as salmon are.

Posted by: Rodseth on April 5 2007 4:26 PM

Are you aware that due to avalanche "water usage for production of power at Kemano has been restricted" and "In order to make room in the reservoir for above normal inflows and to accommodate lower than expected water usage (at Kemano) ,discarge from the Skins Lake Spillway was increasedto approximately 125 m3/s ..." B.C. Hydro Should have control of the reserve not Alcan.

Posted by: Chadermando on April 6 2007 12:14 AM

Complete miss management on purpose IMO for the strategy of using peoples property (or danger to property) as leverage for financial gain.

Common sense tells us maintenance should be scheduled and the reservoir should not be full when its a known high snowpack year.

IMO this might be reason enough to have BC Hydro take over this watershed alteration operation. For public accountability, and provincial watershed management.

It could turn out this floods downtown PG, and if that happens it could be a huge opportunity. #1 privatize Kemano, and #2 disaster insurance to rebuild blocks of the downtown?

Posted by: Chadermando on April 6 2007 12:17 AM

Privatize Kemano should have been nationalize Kemano through a BC Hydro buy out and an agreed price structure for Alcans needs.

Posted by: Mcfly on April 7 2007 8:03 AM

So many things are done wrong by Alcan...they knew 2 months ago we were going to have a higher than usual snow pack, so could have increased spillage way back then a slight amount, and no one would have been bothered in that case.

And yes, if they cause damage by a sudden large spill, they should be liable IMO for the costs of repair....if they fight, heck sue them.

And lastly a question.
After they open the spill gates, how long does the extra water take to reach vanderhof?
I have looked but cannot find the answer.

thanks

Posted by: owl on April 7 2007 11:21 AM

"Nechako water surge could hit Vanderhoof as early as today" .... written April 5th ... now the 7th ...

Anyone heard anything? 2 inch rise? 2 foot rise? less or more than expected?

Posted by: Ben Meisner on April 7 2007 6:07 PM

We are being told in our newsroom that Cheslatta Lake has about 10 to 12 feet of snow on it. the lake is frozen, and also Murray lake is frozen. The first water is being picked up by the snow and so the water is being delayed. Locals say that all of the ice from both lakes will have to go through the lakes and into the Nechako . It is just taking more time. Some say It might take a week to arrive at Vanderhoof.

Posted by: Mcfly on April 7 2007 11:39 PM

Thanks for the update Ben.