DELTA (NEWS 1130) – A flood and debris advisory has been issued for people living along the edge of the Lower Fraser River, where water levels could hit six metres, Tuesday morning.
This year has been harder to manage, according to Hugh Fraser, the deputy director of engineering in Delta, who says rising waters are causing a different set of problems for those on and near the river in Mission and Delta.
“It’s really interesting,” he tells NEWS 1130. “The flows have been so high for so long this year that there’s probably quite a bit more debris that’s come down than has come down in other years. For example, last year, the flows were a lot lower and we didn’t see nearly as much as we’re seeing this year.”
The City of Delta is among municipalities that have warned of logs and large wood pieces being swept downriver during a high streamflow advisory.
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Boaters, float-home owners, marine traffic, and infrastructure operators are being told to be watchful, with warnings that debris traps upriver in the Fraser Valley are being overwhelmed.
Fraser says while there is some concern now, conditions should improve if the weather cooperates.
“Well, the prediction is that we’re in an unstable, sort of, weather conditions for the next week or so,”
Fraser says. “This is probably the peak over the next day or two, but we just need to continue to keep an eye on it because it’s very rainfall dependent.”
He says the debris traps up near Agassiz are much more full than previous years due to currents staying high for a longer period of time.
-With files from Paul James and Hana Mae Nassar
