– Files from Zachary Barrowcliff, My Cariboo Now
The Province has given an update after an evacuation order for two areas, a flood warning and watches regarding the landslide 69 kilometres west of Williams Lake.
The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, Bowinn Ma says action is being taken with partners to keep people safe.
Ma says the current blockage has created a lake, standing several kilometres upstream.
“Our primary concern right now is the impacts to people and communities if this dam were to experience a sudden collapse.” says Ma
“In the event of the dam collapsing, an outburst of water could flow down the Chilcotin River and Fraser River, bringing with it a significant amount of debris.”
Ma added the risk to people and communities along the river is unknown at this time, but has the potential to be significant.
Executive Director of Water management, Connie Chapman said the area is familiar to landslides, with two previously in 1964 and 2004, but isn’t to this scale.
She says staff are on the ground undertaking assessments, and from what they know, there is a little seepage through the material but nothing substantial, however the material is susceptible to erosion.
Chapman noted they recognize the cultural sensitivities, as it is a sensitive fish bearing system.
The Ministry said that they’re working with communities to co-ordinate response operations, and the Province is prepared to take further action in the event of flooding such as deploying sandbags, sandbag machines, gabions and and tiger dams.
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