By Abigail Popple, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, RMG
The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship issued a flood watch for Blue River, Canoe River and tributary rivers around the north end of the Kinbasket Lake at 9:00 a.m. this morning. A flood watch is issued when river levels are rising and may exceed bankfull – the maximum point water levels can reach before spilling over the river’s boundaries – so flooding of areas surrounding the river may occur.
Additionally, the Ministry issued a high streamflow advisory for the Upper Fraser River, which includes the Robson Valley. A high streamflow advisory is issued when river levels are rising or expected to rise quickly and minor flooding in low areas is possible, but no major flooding is anticipated.
The Village of Valemount is advising residents to avoid Swift Creek, which is rising rapidly.
“Please stay away from the creek as the banks may be undercut and dangerous,” a post on the Village Facebook account reads.
The advisories come after a night of heavy rain, with the Valemount airport gauge having recorded 65 mm of rainfall. The Canoe River south of Valemount has a flow of about 105 cubic metres per second, corresponding with a 10- to 20-year return period – meaning this level of flow is only likely to occur once every 10 or 20 years.
This morning, the Blue River gauge recorded a flow of 14 cubic metres per second. Flows are continuing to rise quickly and may exceed a two-year return period (meaning the river may see flood levels that statistically only happen once every two years), though the current flow level is well below a one-year return period.
