No Flood Expected on Nechako or Fraser This Year

Tuesday, November 30, 1999 12:00 AM

Prince George, B.C. - There is some encouraging news on the snowpack for this year. The 2007/08 winter has produced near normal snowpacks for most of the province. That means near normal spring runoff is forecast for most river basins, with low likelihood of flooding on major Interior rivers such as the Fraser, Nechako, Thompson, Skeena and Nass.

The snowpack for the Fraser is 113% of normal this year, compared to 139% of normal last year at this time.

The Nechako Basin snowpack is 97% of normal this year, while last year at this time it was 159% of normal

The Peace River basin has above normal snowpacks, and is likely to experience above normal spring runoff as snow melts. This area may experience elevated flood risk in areas such as the tributaries and inflows to the Williston Reservoir (not the Peace River below Williston Reservoir) as a result of higher than normal runoff.

Depending on weather and how rapidly snowmelt occurs during early May to mid-June, there is potential for flooding on smaller rivers and streams in the Interior. The weather factors that can lead to elevated risk are
extended periods of hot weather, and/or heavy rain produced by frontal or convective storm systems.

In basins with significant areas of mountain pine beetle infestation (notably in the Nechako and Mid Fraser areas), there is potential for higher than normal river and lake levels.

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Posted on Tuesday, November 30, 1999 12:00 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: RedRock on April 7 2008 1:37 PM

Thanks for the good news......LETS MOVE THE BERM!!!!!!!!....NOW!

Posted by: camoose on April 7 2008 1:40 PM

When is Alcan opening the flood gates again?

Posted by: northman on April 7 2008 3:14 PM

It doesnt matter what the snow pack is doing.. Its how fast the Driftwood,Takla and Stuart system melts and the status of the kemano generator. If its not running you can expect them to dump again this spring. Combine all the factors above and you get flooding. Does anyone know if they are running kemano at full capacity this year or dumping in the nechako system?

Posted by: lostfaith on April 7 2008 4:12 PM

When the water level in the Nechako comes up and all the ice breaks loose and it comes into town and stops on the gravel bar that blocks the Nechako river at the mouth, Then there will be trouble.
Mark my words.
If the powers that be don't undertake a gravel removal project at the mouth of the Nechako at the next low water time of the year, then we can put the blame for future flooding squarely at their feet.
Because thats what it is going to take to prevent future floods.
End of story.

Posted by: giterdun on April 7 2008 4:30 PM

lostfaith is 100% correct and if the city doesn't listen they should all be held accountable. It borders on criminal, what has happened on river road.

Posted by: Harbinger on April 7 2008 5:39 PM

As Curly would say in the movie City Slickers, " The year ain't over yet".

Posted by: Andyfreeze on April 7 2008 6:48 PM

Northman is correct.
The Driftwood,Takla Lake, and the Stuart ARE the places to watch.
Generally,when Takla starts to drop,the threat of flood is over for the most part.
When it is on the rise,look out!
A lot depends on the kind of spring weather we have as well.
If it gets too hot,too fast,we are in trouble.

Posted by: owl on April 7 2008 8:29 PM

"When the water level in the Nechako comes up and all the ice breaks loose and it comes into town and stops on the gravel bar that blocks the Nechako river at the mouth, Then there will be trouble."

Since the City is not putting any hot water in ... we can all go down and pee on the ice near the shore to melt it.

***OH MY!!***

Posted by: metalman on April 8 2008 7:17 AM

I believe in what Northman says, it is not how much, but how fast. It makes sense to me. Besides, when does the government ever get things right?
metalman.