All eyes on the snow pack

While the water receeded a bit in Terrace today and Smithers caught a breath or two as well, provincial officials are warning that all the danger is not over just yet.

The Globe and Mail website provides a number of extra features on their flood coverage, which you can check out here.

B.C. snow pack still a concern
Canadian Press
June 9, 2007 at 10:42 PM EDT

TERRACE, B.C. — British Columbia's public safety minister says that while flooding has eased in northwestern part of the province the area is still prone to more problems if the snow pack melts too quickly.

John Les flew over flooded parts of Terrace on Saturday with federal Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day and said 60 per cent of the snow pack remains.

"This still might not be over yet and while we want to move on and get beyond this let's just be mindful that there' still an awful lot of snow to melt," Mr. Les said.

A heavy rainfall or a spell of hot weather would melt the snow and bring the water level in the Skeena River back up again.

"I'm told that old-timers around here are quite aware of that," Mr. Les said. "They said historically the river will come up and flood you once, it'll back off and then come back and kick you again. I'm not saying or prophesying that will happen but it is something we need to be mindful of."

For now, cooler-than-seasonal temperatures have slowed snow melt.

Mr. Les said people whose homes have been damaged are eligible for disaster financial relief of up to $300,000.

Mr. Day said money from $33-million in funding by the federal and provincial governments allowed two dikes in Terrace to be upgraded before the flood came.

That saved the local sewage plant and several homes from being flooded, he said.

But Mayor Jack Talstra said dikes should be in place for the entire community along the Skeena River and he will be discussing that issue with both levels of government.

"We've had about three floods now in the last eight years, this one by far the worst, and we don't know if it's climate change or global warming or what it is but more of them are coming," he said.
Mr. Talstra also called on the provincial government to upgrade an old logging road residents have been using since Highway 16 was closed.

Trucks have been using the Cranberry Connector to bring groceries and other supplies to the area.

Co-operation from the weather allowed residents from Braun's Island to return to their homes on Friday after three days but they remain on evacuation alert in case of more flooding.

That means people should be prepared to leave again on short notice if the flood situation changes.

Access to the island is restricted to local residents.

Don Ramsay, a Transportation Ministry official, said Highway 16 east of Terrace was opened to truck traffic early Saturday and then to all traffic later in the afternoon because the water level had dropped significantly.

The highway will be closed at 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. Sunday to allow for upgrading needed after a mudslide on May 28, he said.

Allan Chapman, a spokesman for the River Forecast Centre, said the Skeena River has dropped almost two metres from its peak at noon on Thursday, while the Nass River has dropped almost one metre.

In Golden, B.C., however, flooding is occurring in the Columbia River, which is almost at its peak, Mr. Chapman said, adding it won't be receding until later Sunday.

Jim Whyte, director of operations for the provincial emergency program, said 80 homes around B.C. are still under evacuation order and about 1,200 homes remain on evacuation alert.

Mr. Whyte said flooding is still occurring along the Fraser River in Prince George, which is still isolated.

A barge shipment of fuel will be sent to the area later Saturday, he said.

The Canadian Coast Guard vessel Wilfred Laurier will also be transporting diesel fuel to Prince Rupert for emergency vehicles, Mr. Whyte said.

However, the southern Peace River region was put on a flood watch Saturday.

The situation affect the communities of Chetwynd, Tumbler Ridge, Hudson Hope, Mackenzie and Finlay River.

A high stream flow advisory for the region was upgraded to a flood watch as a result of intense heat last week which produced extremely high rates of snowmelt.

Meanwhile, the city of Richmond is inspecting its dikes daily during the flood threat and measuring the area's river levels.

Residents are also being reminded to have an emergency preparedness plan and enough food and supplies on hand for 72 hours.

Richmond's dikes were constructed well above the highest flood level heights ever recorded in 1894, city spokesman Ted Townsend said in a statement.

"The city has done some precautionary sandbagging in some areas and is prepared to mobilize a broader response on short notice should risk levels increase."