HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

On May 18, the Fraser River caused minor flooding in the city of Prince George. Because of the increased
water table levels some small businesses at 2 nd and 3 rd Avenue were affected by ground water seepage. Local
authorities blocked access to Paddlewheel Park in South Fort George. Damage at Prince George was estimated at $1
million. At Stoner, a slide on Highway 97 South, and no immediate detour available, threatened to sever the highway.
The required berm and drain work was estimated in excess of $100,000.
On May 19, water levels in the Fraser River at Prince George were slowly dropping, but the Nechako River
was rising. The Nechako and Stuart River systems continued to rise, though at a slower rate. Fraser Lake continued to
rise to record highs and Burns Lake also continued to rise. High winds continued to erode Colleymount Road,
threatening at least one residence. Francois Lake continued to rise causing concern about Nadina River to wash out a
MoTH road used as an important industrial artery. At Fort Babine, a rising Babine River at Babine Lake threatened a
large salmonoid enhancement project with 500,000 salmon fry. So far, 350,000-400,000 fry had been lost. The Salmon
River, though dropping, threatened 3-5 homes.
The Mud River damaged bridges and road accesses to four different ranches. On the Telachuk Road, 30 mi.
(48 km) west of Prince George, road access was damaged and 3-5 homes reported flood damage. Near Fort St. James,
Stewart (Stuart?) Lake was rising slowly causing minor local flooding.
In Shelly, 20 km. east of Prince George, the flooding Fraser River caused the evacuation of nine families. At
Foreman Flats, 10 km west of Prince George, floodwaters threatened 3-4 homes. Sandbagging had started here on the
afternoon of May 17.
On May 22, the side tributaries in the Central/Northeast Region remained high. The Chilako/Mud River had
dropped on May 21 but the Nechako continued to rise slowly. The Nauteley River, a tributary into the Nechako River
upstream of Vanderhoof was still quite high. The Fraser River at South Fort George (near Prince George city centre)
started dropping slowly on May 21.
Pre-freshet food protection projects and cost in the Northwest included: New Remo: bank repairs and raising
dyke along the Zymagotitz River ($13,000); Telkwa: removal of logjam to modify river flows, due to high river levels
unable to complete ($20,000); Lakelse: Granite Creek dyke repairs and riprap restoration ($30,000)
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*1) The Ebenezer Flats area is located approximately 7 km from downtown Smithers, on the east side of the Bulkley
River. The area is accessed via Lower Viewmont Road. Local roads include Columbia Street and 22 nd Ave. The area is
predominantly rural residential acreages of between 1-10 ac. in size and includes small intensive farms. Ebenezer
Canadian Reformed School is also located in the neighbourhood with an enrolment of approximately 130 students and
10-15 staff and volunteers. The most recent flooding in the area occurred during the spring of 1976, June 17, 1986 and
in 1993 a Christmas Day ice jam flood. Following the flooding that took place in mid May, the residents of Ebenezer
Flats organised as a resident’s association. They agreed immediate attention was required in order to ensure permanent
flood protection in the event of future flooding
Early July 1997
Event type: Spring runoff flooding.
Precipitation: Not applicable.
Source: Ministry of Environment files; Geonorth Engineering Ltd.1998. Nechako River bank erosion study. Miworth
and Prince George, B.C.
During the spring freshet of 1997, river and lake levels in many regions were the highest they had been in 25
years. The following damage occurred and restoration cost: Lakelse: aggradation ($60,000); Dutch Valley: erosion and
aggradation ($40,000); Telkwa ($10,000); Bulkley River: aggradation ($2,500); Sowchea Creek: log jam ($1,000);
Nechako River: erosion ($10,000); Pingle Creek: erosion ($40,000);
British Columbia’s Disaster Financial Assistance Program provided assistance to victims who sustained
damage caused by the May 1 to June 27, 1997 flooding in the regional districts of Fraser Fort George, Kitimat-Stikine
and Bulkley-Nechako.
During May and June, subsequent high flows on the Lower Nechako River caused severe bank erosion at
Miworth and Prince George, beyond any experienced in recent years. *1) The high flows during May and June,
including 17 days when the flow exceeded 1,000 m 3 /s and a further 72 days when it exceeded 800 m 3 /s, caused
continuous toe erosion and sloughing of the slope at Island Drive and Bergman Road. The erosion of the Nechako
River continued “at an alarming rate.” By mid July, much of the Nechako River Park and Trail System in the City of
Prince George was still under water. Though the assessment was not complete, the estimated cost to repair several
bridges and paved portions of the trail that were damaged was between $50,000-75,000.
A study by Geonorth Engineering Ltd. found that homes on Aspen Lane to be at risk in the event of one or
two reoccurrence similar to the icejam of November 1996. They recommended the riverbank at this location to be
revetted. As the homeowners most at risk along Island Park Drive did have space in which to relocate, this action was
less expensive than revetting the river.
Pingle Creek near Fort St. John eroded a section of bank downstream of Highway 97 and threatened several
homes. Estimated cost for bank protection was $50,000.
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