Chances of Flooding go Down In Vanderhoof

Thursday, May 17, 2007 03:59 AM

Chart of flow rates of normal to flood levels presented at meeting in Vanderhoof last night

A public meeting has been told in Vanderhoof that the risk of flooding in that community has been reduced to a 30% chance down from the previous prediction of 60%.

The change comes from the change of flow in the Nautley River which has now reached its peak. Meantime Alcan says once the reservoir reaches 2800 feet, water will have to be released into the system. The spillway is capable of releasing 1200 cubic meters into Skins Lake spillway.

The major increase in flows comes as a result of a transmission tower near Kitimat that was knocked out.

Alcan says work can only be done by Helicopter and bad weather has delayed this work. Meantime the repair of generator #5 will begin in mid July and the generator will likely be back in operation by the end of 2007.

Environment Canada is predicting normal precipitation levels for the next three months. The Nechako watershed was 128% of normal in April, and so far in May it is 194% of normal.

Paul Hascari, Superintendent of Public Works for the District of vanderhoof says there should be no contamination of Vanderhoof’s water supply do to the high water. He says the District has plugged manholes so sewers do not back up and the District is not anticipating sewer problems.

Ground water he says could be the major problem in that community.

Residents came away from the meeting with one question unanswered, that was, what will happen this winter and next spring?

The reservoir is expected to be at 2799 feet by Nov. 1st.2007, and Alcan will not be able to release water as soon as ice forms to prevent any recurrence of what took place several years ago when there was flooding in the city of Prince George from ice jams.

Although a recent report released from the Ministry of Forests says the region will have 60% more water entering the creeks and rivers because there are fewer trees absorbing the water, a provincial hydrologist at the Vanderhoof meeting says that information was not factored into their predictions.

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