Chilcotin River Faces Flood Risk as Landslide Dam Begins to Spill

Water has started to pour over a landslide that’s blocking the Chilcotin River in British Columbia. This alarming situation was confirmed by officials from the Cariboo Regional District Emergency Operations Centre early Monday morning.

At 9 a.m. PT, the water began moving over the dam created by the landslide, prompting the province to release an emergency alert shortly after. Residents along the banks of the Chilcotin River, stretching from Hanceville to the Fraser River, were urged to evacuate immediately due to the danger.

As the water flows downstream, officials anticipate it will carry fallen trees, debris, and organic matter along with it. The levels of the Chilcotin River are expected to rise significantly above normal, while the Fraser River’s levels are predicted to be lower than spring flood levels.

Gerald Pinchbeck from the Emergency Operations Centre highlighted that as the water levels rise, there’s a growing concern about debris flows that could impact safety in the region. He emphasized that the situation could lead to unpredictable risks for both people and infrastructure.

The province has urged the public to steer clear of the rivers, warning that even if the water appears to be at similar levels as during spring flooding, it will have a more powerful and chaotic flow.

Bowinn Ma, the Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Climate Change, is set to provide a live update later today to shed more light on this developing situation.

Evacuation orders are already in place for certain areas along both the Chilcotin and Fraser rivers, due to the danger posed by the fast-moving water. These orders cover several square kilometers around the rivers, particularly near where they converge.

The landslide, which occurred on July 30-31, created a dam approximately 30 meters high and 600 meters wide. Authorities had previously warned that water would eventually spill over this dam, and it appears that day has now come.

Residents, including ranchers like Ken Ilnicki, have been closely monitoring the situation, noting that the water above the landslide has widened significantly in recent days. This growing ‘lake’ was estimated to hold back around 61 million cubic meters of water as of Sunday morning.

With risks of further landslides and flooding, the local Emergency Operations Centre is providing ongoing updates to keep the community informed.