Slocan Valley West road lone hotspot for RDCK Emergency Operations Centre
By Bruce Fuhr
Sunshine Monday allowed emergency officials to assess flooding hotspots in the Regional District of Central Kootenay.
The only major concern is the Slocan Valley West Road where some families have been evacuated from homes.
“We’re taking a wait and see approach pending another rainfall warning for (Tuesday),” RDCK Emergency Operations Centre Public Relations officer Bill Macpherson told The Nelson Daily Monday evening.
“In the Slocan Valley there’s a number of people who have chosen to evacuate . . . families with children who spent the night in hotels in Castlegar and Nelson.”
Macpherson said other concerns during the weekend, Broadwater Road north of Robson and Pass Creek/Goose Creek have been dropped from the evacuation alert orders.
“Broadwater road is open to single lane traffic and that’s good while were continuing to monitor Pass Creek and Goose Creek.”
Macpherson also said an evacuation alert for four residences near Crawford Creek has been lifted, effective immediately.
However, water levels in Crawford Creek could change with the ongoing snowmelt runoff and rain expected Tuesday.
Kootenay Lake levels still expected to rise
The RDCK Emergency Operations Centre wants to inform residents living on Kootenay Lake that BC Hydro advises the lake has not yet reached its peak level.
In a written press release the RDCK saiud inflow/outflow information from contributing dams, weather forecasts and the inflow of high-elevation snowpack melt from creeks and streams indicates the lake will continue to rise marginally in the next few days and remain at high levels until at least July 4.
International treaty obligations are also a factor.
Currently the lake level is 1752.9 feet (534.28 metres). BC Hydro is expecting the lake to peak in the next few days at a level of 1753.2 feet before gradually dropping.
This will be the highest level in almost 50 years. In 1974, Kootenay Lake peaked at 1754.24 feet.
Rainfall events forecast over the next few days – particularly isolated thundershowers should they occur – could increase levels at a more rapid rate than forecast.
Rain is expected over the next few days along with below seasonal temperatures, which should keep inflows to current or slightly increased levels.
The RDCK is providing sand for residents at the North Shore Hall, Heroux Road at Nine Mile, Balfour Fire Hall and in Ainsworth at the Silver Ledge site.
Sand bags are available at most Regional District fire halls, the Kaslo Public Works yard and at RDCK’s head office on Lakeside Drive in Nelson.
Editor’s Note: The Nelson Daily wants to know how people are dealing with the recent floods affecting our area. Readers can post pictures creeks, sandbags or almost anything on The Nelson Daily Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-nelson-daily/163612520408823
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