Rivers Recede, But Lakes Still High

By 250 News

Francois Lake, in the centre of this Google Earth image, is very high

 Martin Hinds, the owner of the François Lake Resort says he is happy to see the people staying at his resort walking around in jackets recently because it means that the 190% of normal snow pack covering the north face of Nadina  Mountain  is melting slowly. Hinds says there has been some flooding around the lake, “But make no mistake, it’s not like the Bulkley which flows from the other side of the Nadina Mountain; there is not a wall of water heading our way. A huge wind storm could create more problems for us along the Lake shore, or some more 30 plus degree weather.”

He said there are roads closed in the region, one of which floods every year which is a forestry, public road.  It has been closed since the May long weekend. One resort near the Ferry to François Lake has a lot of water in and around the lodge. A number of homes in a few bays have water in the basements.

“The fear we have is that the Ferry will have to quit running because of the high water and that could create problems for us receiving the goods and services that we need.”

“Lots of people have been sandbagging” Hinds says, “but there is a difference in sandbagging here and along the Bulkley River, you haven’t got the mud and the fast rising water. Although a lot of summer homes that have been built here have basements, they are not like the old summer cottages that you would think are around the Lake shore.”

The Provincial Emergency Program said Tuesday that 568 homes in the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako have been put on alert because of the flooding. That number includes homes in danger along the Bulkley River and in communities such as Smithers and Telkwa.  The number also includes a large number of homes on Francois Lake.

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