Rising waters in B.C. Central Interior lead to flood watch, road closures

Some nervous moments are expected in parts of B.C. Interior after a flood watch was issued for the region on Friday.

The River Forecast Centre issued a flood watch for the region — including the Nazko River, West Road River, Bonaparte River, and tributary rivers around Cache Creek, Merritt, Williams Lake, Quesnel and surrounding areas — as a rapidly melting snowpack has caused creeks to overflow.

A local state of emergency has been declared in the Village of Cache Creek due to rising water levels.

Cache Creek public works foreman Shayne Billy said the creek’s water level hit its peak in the early hours overnight.

He says more than 100 people worked through the night, and damage appears limited to a few local hotels and one property.

“There wasn’t really enough time for coffee. You know, you’re eating on the run, somebody would run up to you give you a sandwich or give you a pizza, but it’s basically you had no time, it’s just go, go, go.”

But Billy said the real concern is the expected flooding on the adjoining Bonaparte River, which is expected to peak on Tuesday.

“The residents have been for two weeks coming and getting sandbags from us and filling their own,” he told Global News.

“They’re as prepared as they can be. There’s probably at least 100 trailers that are right along the Bonaparte, so those will be impacted.”

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Highway 1 was closed in both directions at Spences Bridge in the Fraser Canyon because of a washout at Cache Creek.

It reopened Saturday morning.

Highway 97 is also closed in both directions at the junction with Highway 99 while northbound traffic is being blocked at Cache Creek at the junction with Highway 1.

There are also road closures near Savona and Merritt.

High streamflow advisories have been issued for B.C.’s Southern Interior as well as the Boundary and Peace regions.  

More information on road closures is available at the Drive BC website.