Numerous B.C. flood warnings remain in effect Sunday

Rising rivers have been a cause for worry across the province, with numerous flood warnings still in effect Sunday for the Columbia, Eagle, Fraser, Kicking Horse, Liard and Shuswap rivers.

The B.C. River Forecast Centre is keeping a close eye on the Fraser River, which reached flood stage in Prince George last week, and remains swollen with last week’s rainfall.

River levels along the Fraser will continue to rise Sunday and into this week and a High Streamflow Advisory was issued Saturday from Quesnel to the ocean, including the Lower Mainland and Fraser Canyon as recent heavy rain works its way down through the Upper Fraser and Thompson Rivers.

After last year’s spring flood left several Chilliwack farms under water, damaging 15 properties including fruit orchards, hazelnut trees and grazing pastures, some residents are worried about this year’s freshet.

Fifth-generation cattle farmer Will Davis, 36, whose farm on Ballam Rd. is situated in the floodplain, said that a recently finished berm – a gravel structure like a secondary dike – near Carey Point could help mitigate losses this year. A small check dam was also built. After last year’s “rough go,” he said, “we’re keeping our fingers crossed right now. It all depends on Mother Nature.”

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He’s not collecting sandbags yet, but the river was last measured at 5 metres and rising, and flooded at 6.5 metres last May. Davis said significant erosion in areas outside the dike system adds to flood risk, which is why area landowners with the city and province funded the $110,000 check dam. “We’ve been watching it closely,” he said.

In the interior, the forecast centre extended the Shuswap River flood watch Saturday night, saying that recent and continuing heavy rainfall in the river’s headwaters had increased the risk of flooding in the region, east of Kamloops. The forecast centre said peak water levels were uncertain and area is being watched closely.

A flood warning is also in effect for the Liard River. At the Upper Crossing monitoring centre, near the community of Lower Post, water was rising at 4 centimetres per hour on Saturday, but the rise rate was slowly dropping, officials said. River levels are expected to peak Sunday or Monday.

In Prince George last week, 17 homes were given evacuation orders.

On Thursday night, the city of Prince George issued a “state of local emergency” and provided emergency shelter for residents, especially those who were evacuated from their Farrell Street homes due to an imminent risk of flooding. The city is providing 14 residents from six homes short term accommodation and food supply. Other residents were also put on evacuation alert, including 14 businesses and 19 homes, said city spokesperson Chris Bone.

The Fraser River at South Fort George peaked on Saturday at 9.7 metres, which was higher than predicted. The level could remain at 9 metres for at least a week and may even rise again as mountain snow melts throughout June. Although sunshine was in the forecast Sunday, more rain is expected in the coming week.

Flood watches for the Columbia, Kicking Horse and Eagle rivers continue as well.