Public Meeting Tonight on Flood Mitigation Plan

Wednesday, July 16, 2008 03:58 AM

Prince George, B.C.- The interim report on phase one of the flood risk analysis for Prince George is the subject of a special public information session this evening.

“We will have the consultants on hand to discuss their report, then we will open it up for questions” says Joan Chess, Manager of the Upper Fraser region of the Fraser Basin Council.

The session is set to start at 7:00 this evening at the Civic Centre rooms 204 and 205.

City of Prince George, General Manager of Development Bob Radloff says this is an opportunity for the public to further shape the flood risk options. “The industry group has helped shape our opinion on what could be done, certainly the community has told us dredging the river (Nechako) is something that should be pursued and we are giving that our fullest efforts.” The interim report indicated that while dredging would have little effect to reduce the incidence of ice jam flooding, it also says there needs to be further work done on the possibility of dredging to reduce risk from the spring freshet.

Radloff says the session is meant to gather feedback and input from the public. He says the City wants to know which ideas for flood mitigation the public will support.

Some of the ideas include raising River Road permanently, raising McAloney and Ongman roads, dyke construction along Del Haven river frontage, dyke construction along properties on Morning Place. There are also suggestions for widening the channel through Cottonwood Island park, the re-opening of historical drainage channels that run through some of the industrial property on the south side of the Nechako, new drainage installed along First Avenue and new dykes along the Paddle Wheel park’s bank of the Fraser River.

The interim report indicated there was still a lot of work that needs to be done but was not covered in the initial proposal. Radloff says there is still no price tag associated with that work, but the City will apply to the Province for additional dollars to cover the cost of the work.

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Posted on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 03:58 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: tinyapplecork on July 16 2008 7:51 AM

About time :)

Sounds reasonable enough. I will make every effort to attend. I am very interested to hear this interim report. Nice to see that dredging is becoming a priority! I hope there is a large turnout tonight.

Posted by: whelen on July 16 2008 8:45 AM

I hope they explore one more option, that is to let Mother Nature have her way and turn the lower floodplane into riverside parkland. I feel for the residents and business that had to deal with the flooding so lets bite the bullet, buy them out so they are free to rebuild on dry ground. This would Prince George the space to build the ultimate in riparian trails/interpretive/educational/parks at the confluence of BC's two great rivers.

It would have the co benefits of improved air quality (less dust and smoke) and while we're at it, let's clean up that embarassment on the north side of First Avenue. Coming into town from the east we have the bridge, then a nice little piece of gardening on the right, then take a good look at the scenery along first ave. I'm proud of Prince George so that part makes me sick every time I see it.

Posted by: owl on July 16 2008 9:22 AM

You have the ratioinal solution whelen. In addtion the City can get some funding now to do that. I think that any other solution will just put good money inot something which will likely have to be continued to be maintained at a high cost into the future.

It is not as if we are short of land and that is the only location we can conduct that kind of business.

Time to change PG. We have been given an opportunity which does not come along too often. Let us hope that the City is not going to shove continuing support of inducstry in that location down our throats because they are rebuilding the bridge.

Posted by: lostfaith on July 16 2008 9:44 AM

"The interim report indicated that while dredging would have little effect to reduce the incidence of ice jam flooding"

The interim report is wrong.

Posted by: lostfaith on July 16 2008 9:47 AM

Using taxpayer dollars to relocate business is also wrong.
The taxpayers didn't force anyone to locate their business where they did.

Posted by: mythoughts on July 16 2008 9:58 AM

I agree lostfaith, on both your comments.