Cold Weather May Hamper Flood Relief Efforts

Tuesday, January 22, 2008 02:37 PM

Prince George, B.C. - Concern is mounting that the current coldsnap will hamper ice clearing operations underway on the Nechako River.

Prince George Public Information Officer, Don Schaffer, says with the colder weather, "More frazil ice -- the free-floating, slushy ice that in part caused the jam to form in the first place – (has travelled) downstream on the Nechako and joined the head of the ice jam, extending the jam and potentially creating fluctuating water levels along its upper reaches." Temperatures are predicted to be seasonal or lower for the next seven days.

It was the warm weather over the past two weeks that created open water conditions on the Fraser River where the Nechako runs into the bigger channel, allowing the City to pursue the Amphibex option -- the water excavator that arrived on-scene over the weekend.

Schaffer says Amphibex operators, Eco Technologies of New Brunswick, have encountered strong currents at the foot of the jam. A thin crust of hard ice has formed over the slushy frazil that forms most of the jam; that, combined with the currents, have caused delays in implementing the 24-hour operation Eco Tec hoped would be in place at this point. The Amphibex has operated the past four days in daylight hours only.

Meanwhile, the City continues construction of the pipeline that will bring water from the steam plant at the Canfor Intercon pulp mill to the Nechako channel. Schaffer says the estimated date of completion released yesterday was incorrect, the pipeline is now expected to be complete on Monday, January 28th, not this Friday.

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Posted on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 02:37 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Palopu on January 22 2008 6:37 PM

This machine looks like a gnat on an elephants butt. They shouldnt be surprised by the currents considering that they are working in the main channel in open water. This channel has been open from the get go (contrary to what the City would have you beleive).

I cannot see what benefit this machine will have over all. Water is presently running through the North Channel,and also through Cottonwood park. He can make the North Channel wider but this doesnt mean that more water will flow as a result. There is little if anything they can do in Cottonwood Park. This leaves the middle south channel which is frozen to the ground with no water underneath, and therefore this machine cannot operate.

It appears to me we have had a lot of ** to do** about nothing. Once the river starts to freeze again in the next few days we will be back to where we were.

Warm water may or may not have an effect, it could go either way. I personally think that the warm water will follow the same path as the cold and will cool off just South of the Simon Fraser Bridge causing more ice in that area.

Very soon now someone will have to make a decision on this machine. Continue to run it at little or no benefit, or load it on a truck back to NB. The contractor has made a **cool** $375,000.00 so he is happy.

If we dont do something soon we will be staring at a bill for $1,000,000.00 and still have a river full of ice.

I think Mother Nature is going to win this one.

Posted by: NMG on January 22 2008 7:22 PM

"Very soon now someone will have to make a decision on this machine. Continue to run it at little or no benefit, or load it on a truck back to NB. The contractor has made a **cool** $375,000.00 so he is happy.

If we dont do something soon we will be staring at a bill for $1,000,000.00 and still have a river full of ice"

That is a very valid point Palopu. The only thing worse than not trying to solve the problem, would be to continue to try and solve the problem knowing that you aren't going to accomplish anything, all the while spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in the process.

Stopping certainly wouldn't be the popular decision, but it may prove to be the smart one.

Of course, I hope that this stuff does work.

Posted by: papychat on January 22 2008 8:41 PM

Hi every body
I wonder why the Amphibex from NB
charge so much to do this job of ice breaking here in chatauguay river
he is charging 300/hrs even in ice jam
how he did get this
price 375 000.00$???????????!!!!!
For only 10 days +transport
===10 days + 8 days transport = 18 DAYS
24hrs/day

375 000.00 / 432hrs = 868.00/hrs???
I think he tought that he win lotery!!!!!

and usualy the Amphibex work all around the clock
Have a good evening

Posted by: He speaks on January 22 2008 9:10 PM

What a blatant mis use of money. Get two long reach excavators to dig it out.

I sure would like to find which city alderman wants to sign their name on this dumb ass venture.

Posted by: Jayda on January 22 2008 9:59 PM

papychat- have you seen the video footage of the jam? Its 5 1/2 km long and thick. He also has living out expenses, for 10 guys x 10-18 days and plane fares. I don't think its unreasonable.

He speaks- who is going to pay for the excavators when they fall through the ice, and have to be retrieved? I can't see an excavator being able to reach out in the middle of this mess.

At least they are trying something, which is better then nothing.

Posted by: heidi1555 on January 22 2008 10:09 PM

The 5:00 news today said a tree was dislodged which created a huge chunk of ice to break free. They made it sound like things were still going along pretty well. I'll watch again at 11:00. The weather network calls for warmer weather further into the week.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on January 22 2008 11:32 PM

Let nature take it's course and save your money.

There is lots of water running in the Nechako. The river is busy scouring deeper channels as the weight of the ice forces the water underneath to speed up.

Posted by: tinyapplecork on January 22 2008 11:52 PM

It seems as soon as there is a challenge mentioned, you guys wanna jump ship! Didn't we already determine that the Amphibex was the best solution at this point? These guys are out there freezing their nuts off, of course they're not going to work 24hrs! It's frostbite season out there right now. The project is NOT doomed. It's only just begun. I'm glad they're not putting their safety at risk!

Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeez!

Posted by: thereasonableman on January 23 2008 4:15 AM

Don't listen to the mucky-mucks. They are afraid that it WILL work. Then, how will they bash city hall ?

Apparently we have inherited a handful more of "ice experts".

I have to watch this guy with binoculars to see what he's doing, but some think you can reach there with a shore machine.

"Very soon now someone will have to make a decision on this machine."

The decision has been made. The machine is doing the job. There is no other decision to be made at this time.

Posted by: flood guy on January 23 2008 8:54 AM

The Neckako River at Isle Pierre, on 15 Jan was about 3m deep and the volume was about 260 m3/second. That is the last day it worked on that site.

At Cheslatta Falls, yesterdays readings were 0.94 m for depth and 83 m3/second for volume.

Don't know the area, but big difference between the two stations. That type of info is available 24/7 to anyone on line.

Posted by: gitterdun on January 23 2008 10:25 AM

They say he is getting paid $375,000 for 10 days regardless of the number of hours he works per day which right now is about 10 hrs a day if he's doing daylight hours only. Its quite possible that he is also getting living out allowance, travel, etc on top of that. Who paid for the transport? Why have 10 guys here anyways? Has the city given anyone the exact cost associated with this venture???