As river levels begin to lower in Prince George leaving behind a mess in Cottonwood Island Park, the District of Vanderhoof continues to struggle against the Nechako.
Although Rio Tinto is slowing the outflow at the Skins Lake Spillway after lower flows into the reservoir, Vanderhoof Mayor Gerry Thiessen says the amount of backed up water in the system means they are not out of the woods quite yet.
“We are now well over 4 weeks of flooding and we probably have another 3 weeks to go yet before we will be able to dry out our parks and basements.”
He says he has been on the phone with Rio Tinto every day for updates on the flooding situation.
Thiessen added that with 3 high water events in 8 years now, climate change is something the District will have to tackle in the long term. He says that Vanderhoof put forward a motion at the NCLGA in Prince George last month asking for a water management plan.
“We understand that this is Rio Tinto’s reservoir. But we will be working on a long term solution with the Minister of Forest, Lands and Natural Resources as well as Rio Tinto.”
A water management plan would allow Vanderhoof to have some input on the flows of the Nechako.
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