Monday August 5, 2024 | VICTORIA, BC [Updated 6:15 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
At 2 pm on this holiday Monday, BC Day, August 5, two BC cabinet ministers made their third online press conference appearance of the BC Day long weekend.
Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, reminded about staying away from the vicinity of the Chilcotin River in the central interior area of BC due to water flow resulting from a landslide.
Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, Nathan Cullen, also reminded: “Stay off the Chilcotin and Fraser Rivers… and away from their banks due to fast-moving water and debris.”
Cullen thanked government specialist, engineers, hydrologist and others who are “working day and night to keep British Columbians safe”. He advised of a website where people can get updates: gov.bc.ca/landslide
Background:
Due to intense rainfall in the Williams Lake area on July 29, a landslide occurred that caused debris to pile up and naturally dam the Chilcotin River.
The BC Government has been doing regular updates ever since, primarily reminding people to stay off the river and surrounding land area, as well as off the Fraser River where it confluences with the Chilcotin.
On-site data of the dammed-up river is being received remotely every 12 to 15 minutes. See: Chilcotin Landslide updates on BC Government website.
Overtopping on August 5:
Overtopping of the dam occurred at about 8:50 am this morning, reported by Connie Chapman, BC water management executive director. Technical staff had watched remotely all night to stay on top of the status of the situation on the ground.
By 10 am the water had moved about 3 km downstream and was continuing to gain momentum and widen the channel. Sediment and large woody debris was being moved along by the water. Water was flowing at about 75 cubic metres per second (m3/s) — about half the natural flow prior to the event, said Chapman.
By 11 am the water was flowing at about 300 (m3/s) — normal for a natural freshet peak, she said.
At 12 noon the flows were overtop the bank, with concerns for additional erosion. At 1 pm the flow was double that of 11 am, at around 600 cubic metres. At 1:30 pm the flow was 750 (m3/s)
The peak is expected to be 8,000 m3/s or more, with a river elevation of four metres on the Fraser River at Lillooet.
Listen to the August 5, 2024 BC Government media livestream for more details.
Emergency preparedness:
Minister Ma reminds all British Columbians to be prepared for any emergency that might present itself. The basics includes having a go-bag prepared for each member of the household or workplace.
The BC long weekend is coming up now through Monday August 5. People will be on the roads travelling or enjoying the outdoors in many areas of the province.
===== RELATED:
- Chilcotin landslide update on BC Day weekend (August 3, 2024 with updates on August 4, 2024)
- Chilcotin landslide update ahead of BC Day weekend (August 2, 2024)
- News sections: EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS | VANCOUVER ISLAND
- BC Government website on Chilcotin River Landslide