The District of Vanderhoof met last night to discuss the fate of the Nechako River.
At a public meeting hosted at the Vanderhoof Friendship Centre, Rio Tinto told a little over 100 residents that they expect the river to run at the current levels of 670 m3/s for the next 10 to 40 days depending on the weather. No rain is in the forecast for the next five days.
Volunteer Fire Chief Ian Leslie said that the community is well prepared with over 2000 metres of gabion baskets and over 65,000 sandbags protecting vulnerable properties across 19 sites. He added that Riverside Park is closed for events but still open to the public for now.
Mayor Gerry Thiessen urged residents to remain calm and patient and said that the District is much better prepared for for the rising waters compared to 2007. In 2007 the river reached 791 m3/s at its peak.
Climate change was also a topic of discussion; larger snowpacks are being melted at a faster rate by hot spring temperatures. Some attendees called for the District to have a “serious talk” about climate change to look about how it will impact the community in the long term.
Meetings will now be held every Wednesday to issue updates until the water levels subside.
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