Vanderhoof Flooded With Concern

By 250 News

About 200 people  filled the Friendship Centre in Vanderhoof to  get details on the  flood potential on the Nechako river.

The release of water from the Skins Lake spillway could be increased to 450 cubic meters per second as early as next week.

That is the word Alcan delivered to about 200 people who turned out to a special community meeting in Vanderhoof last night to get details on  the release of water from the reservoir.

Alcan's experts  say the Nechako reservoir has too much water as Kemano is not using as much as it has in the past because of  a downed generator, and a downed transmission line.  In addition,  there is expected to be  a significant  spring melt, and water  will  have to be spilled  from the reservoir to make room for that spring run off.

"We have to release as much water as possible as soon as possible" says Justus Benckhuysen, Alcan's Supervisor, Environment and Corporate Affairs.

The message that was repeated throughout  the meeting   was that  "reservoir safety is paramount"   and depending on the  ice survey  to be conducted  (as early as today)  the plan is to  increase  the water release to 450 cubic metres per second for  several days.

Benckhuysen would not say if Alcan  would accept any legal responsibility for any flooding.

In its planning,  Alcan says  the worst case scenario,  (which means lots of rain,  record melt from the Nautley system)  would mean  there could be flows in the 650 cubic meters per second range for an extended period during July and August.

One woman asked "You keep saying worst case scenario, but I am not a numbers person,  I need to  know what that means"  

Worst case  scenario, 650 cubic meters per second, means  the water level would be level with the top of Riverview Road.

That means, the red line  on the map at left, would be under water.

The flood of 1976 had flow levels in the 700 cubic metre per second range.

The  District of Vanderhoof says while there is no imminent threat of flooding, planning has to happen. 

Alcan has already  started spilling water from the Skins Lake Spillway .  The first  increase was  from about 48 cubic metres per second to  125 cubic metres per second.  Earlier this week, that  was boosted to 283 cubic metres per second.

The  Skins Lake Spillway is being used because of  generator problems at Kemano.  If the generators were all  working properly,  the excess water could be  released through the  generators.   If the generators are down, the only way out is through Skins Lake Spillway.   Alcan says repairs to the generator  may not be complete until November and there is no telling when repairs will be made to a downed transmission line  near Kitimat. 

(Photo at right shows District of Vanderhoof workers checking water gauge on Burrard Street bridge photo opinion250 staff)

Some residents  didn’t seem satisfied with what they were hearing.  There has been no indication of significant planning to  protect thier homes and businesses. "They aren’t really saying anything" said one woman.  "There are no real answers about  what  is being done to  protect us" said one man.

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