Chilcotin River: Evacuation orders expanding as water picking up speed following overtopping of dam

Evacuation orders for residents in the Cariboo are expanding as water along the Chilcotin River has begun to pick up speed following the overflow that started early Monday.

The following orders are in place:

• Fraser River from the confluence of Churn Creek to Little Leon Creek: anywhere on the Fraser River and its banks from the confluence of Churn Creek and the Fraser River to Little Leon Creek, 25km south of Big Bar Ferry.
• Hanceville to the Gang Ranch Rd Bridge: anywhere on the rivers or along the banks of the Chilcotin River from Hanceville to the Fraser River, and the Fraser River from the Chilcotin River to the Gang Ranch Rd Bridge.

Those in these areas have been told to evacuate those areas immediately as flooding and debris pose a threat to human life.

These orders build on those issued earlier in the day, and Minister of Emergency Management Bowinn Ma has further emphasized the urgency.

“I cannot underline enough how extremely unstable and dangerous the valley is right now,” said Ma. “It is extremely unsafe to be in the landslide and surrounding areas. Now that the water has begun flowing past the natural dam, there is a risk of further landslides, both upstream and downstream of the of the dam.”

Officials say the water early Monday carved about a 15 metre channel through the slide material, and then began widening with water flows increasing by the hour comparable to spring runoff levels.

By 1 p.m., the flow had more than doubled in speed and size since shortly after the dam started to overtop the site of a landslide on the river west of Williams Lake.

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Ma says that while the likelihood of a worst-case scenario, as feared last week, is decreasing, the risks are still there, adding that water levels could reach 21 metres at Farwell Canyon, and 12 metres where it meets the Fraser River.

Officials predict peak flow might hit Lillooet by Monday evening.

On Thursday, the Cariboo Regional District said a dam created by a massive landslide on the Chilcotin River west of Williams Lake on Wednesday was expected to be breached within the next 24 to 48 hours, which they felt at the time posed a serious safety risk to those downstream.

Officials said earlier this week that they were bracing for what will happen when the debris gives way.

The slide prompted evacuation orders for 60 properties, including 12 homes.

The province says its working with local First Nations and Fisheries and Oceans Canada to mitigate potential impacts to spawning salmon and other species.

With files from Raynaldo Suarez and The Canadian Press.