Nechako River rise threatening Vanderhoof, submerges Cottonwood Island Park

UPDATE: In a release this afternoon, Rio Tinto Alcan says they will be increasing the flow of the river further; “over 600 cubic metres and up to 700… depending how much rain and inflow occurs over the next few days.”

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As the Nechako River continues its rapid rise, the District of Vanderhoof is preparing for flooding.

Over 40 volunteers turned out on Sunday to help sandbag and protect Riverside Park, more plan to return and continue the job today. The same park flooded in 2007, requiring extensive rehabilitation work and replanting that is just starting to mature.

Mayor Gerry Thiessen is voicing frustration over Rio Tinto Alcan’s decision to increase the river flow up to 600 from an expected 525 cubic metres a second.

“As a community we asked the water controller for an extra foot of freeboard in the reservoir, which would give our community a lot of reassurance… he gave that in 2007 but he denied it now and we’re not sure why.”

Rio Tinto Alcan will be hosting a public meeting on the flooding Thursday 7pm at the VH Friendship Centre; Thiessen says he will have some questions.

“We just need some answers. From either the province or Rio Tinto Alcan… the (flow) numbers have changed quite dramatically and we haven’t had any more snow. We’ve had a little bit of precipitation but nothing that would cause a river to change this much.”

He says the Nechako River is the only hyrdo-power producing river in BC without a water use plan, which would allow communities like Vanderhoof to have some input on the river flow.

“There is a lot of anxiety in the community” Thiessen said “People are having to move their furniture out of their basement, and we are told that it could be this level into July. I’ve seen some numbers that go into August. That’s a long time that people don’t have use of their basements or backyards.”

Locally in Prince George, the rising waters have submerged and closed large portions of Cottonwood Island Park and washed away pathways along the river.

Calls to Rio Tinto Alcan have so far gone unanswered today.