People are being asked to stay away from the Fraser River throughout the Lower Mainland this long weekend, in the wake of a landslide currently damming the Chilcotin River.
"As a result of the landslide blocking the Chilcotin River, the BC River Forecast Centre has issued a high streamflow advisory for the Fraser River in our area and has asked people to avoid boating and other recreational activities on the Fraser River this weekend," the City of Chilliwack announced on Friday (Aug. 2).
Other cities and communities in the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland made similar announcements.
The slide, which rolled down and blocked the river south of Williams Lake overnight Tuesday (July 30), is estimated at 600 metres long and 30 metres deep. It's largely comprised of fine silts and clay, according to B.C. water management executive director Connie Chapman, and is highly susceptible to erosion.
On Thursday, the B.C. government said the landslide is at risk of suddenly giving way and will release a dangerous mass of built up water and debris if it does.
The high streamflow advisory is in place from Hope, all the way west to the Straight of Georgia. The advisory means river levels are rising or expected to rise rapidly, but that no major flooding is expected. Minor flooding in low-lying areas is possible, according to the BC River Forecast Centre
"While we don’t anticipate any overbank flow, fast moving, debris-filled water is expected," the City of Chilliwack added.
For up-to-date information, go online to the BC River Forecast Centre at bcrfc.env.gov.bc.ca/warnings/index.
– with files from Monica Lamb-Yorski
