Central interior B.C. rivers have been downgraded in light of better weather and calmer stream flows in recent days.
After about a week of warnings, the province’s River Forecast Centre has now put the Chilako River and other tributaries southwest of Prince George on flood watch as snowmelts have eased off in the area.
Experts have determined the Chilako’s upstream flow receded by 50cm after it crested along the Highway 16 bridge early Saturday morning (April 25).
The rising water levels forced almost 40 homes to be evacuated along Upper Mud River Road on Thursday (April 23), but as of today (April 28), that’s been downgraded as well to an evacuation alert by the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George (RDFFG).
“Rainfall patterns will continue to be monitored through this week, as more concentrated amounts of rainfall in the catchments with high flows may lead to additional increases in river levels,” says B.C.’s River Forecast Centre in its latest update.
“The public is advised to stay clear of the fast-flowing rivers and potentially unstable riverbanks during the high-streamflow period.”
On the other side of Highway 16, 40 Lower Mud River Road residences were put on alert on Friday (April 24) in light of the Chilako River levels rising.
Those in alert areas are being asked once again to prepare for an evacuation event if its required.
This includes:
- Move equipment and farm implements to higher ground
- Make arrangements for pets and livestock to be moved to safe locations
- Gather important papers in water-tight containers and move valuables to alternate locations
- Prepare a 72-hour personal survival kit for you and your family
More information is available on the RDFFG’s website.
Elsewhere, high streamflow advisories have been lifted entirely for the Nazko and West Road Rivers.
Rivers have also been downgraded from ‘warning’ to ‘watch’ in the Cariboo and Chilcotin regions, including those near Williams Lake, Quesnel, Alexis Creek, Anahim Lake and Cache Creek.
