Residents are reminded to stay away from Baker Creek until further notice due to the potential risk of flash flooding.
The warning comes after a landslide took place in Baker Creek near Pinnacles Provincial Park, about three kilometres upstream from where the creek flows into the Fraser River.
A team of specialists being coordinated by Emergency Management BC and the City of Quesnel will visit the site later today to continue the investigation.
As of 10 a.m. this morning (July 23rd), the City can offer the following information:
. The slide may have occurred as early as June 28. There was a drop of water flow on the water reading gauge, which returned to normal a few hours later.
. Officials remain confident the blockage will not collapse; it appears the creek is creating a new channel around the blockage.
. The water flowing into the reservoir is exiting at approximately the same rate.
. If a breach of the blockage was to occur, officials estimate it would be consistent with the amount of water seen on the creek during this year's spring run-off period.
The only difference is that it would happen suddenly.
The risk of a flash flood remains. The creek may appear to be at a low level downstream of the slide; this is deceiving and may change rapidly.
The City of Quesnel declared a State of Local Emergency on Friday evening, a measure that helps the City quickly do work needed to protect homes, businesses, and infrastructure. This will remain in effect until further notice.
The City is working closely with Emergency Management BC to monitor the situation and will provide updates.
Check www.quesnel.ca for updates.
Update #1 - Saturday, July 21st;
Residents are reminded to stay away from Baker Creek until further notice after a landslide took place near Pinnacles Provincial Park, about three kilometres upstream from the mouth of the Fraser River.
Specialists from Emergency Management BC visited the site yesterday and provided the City with the following:
. The slide may have occurred as early as June 28. There was a drop of water flow on the water reading gauge, which returned to normal a few hours later.
. They are confident the blockage will not collapse.
. The water flowing into the reservoir is now exiting at the same rate.
. The depth of the water upstream of the blockage is estimated between 10 and 12 feet.
. If a breach of the blockage was to occur, about 30 cubic metres of water would be released every second; by the time it reached city limits, it would be about 25 cubic metres per second.
The average flow during flood season is about 40 cubic metres per second.
The risk of a flash flood remains. The creek may appear to be at a low level downstream of the slide; this is deceiving and may change rapidly.
The City of Quesnel declared a State of Local Emergency on Friday evening, a measure that helps the City quickly do work needed to protect homes, businesses, and infrastructure. This will remain in effect until at least Monday morning.
The City is working closely with Emergency Management BC to monitor the situation and will provide updates.
Check www.quesnel.ca for updates
Original Blog Post:
Courtesy of the City of Quesnel:
Residents are urged to stay away from Baker Creek until further notice after a landslide took place near Pinnacles Provincial Park.
The slide, about three kilometres upstream from the mouth of the Fraser River, was reported on Tuesday evening. Over the past few days, flow on the creek has been reduced by close to 70 percent, creating a risk of a potential flash flood. The creek may appear to be at a low level downstream of the slide; this is deceiving and may change rapidly.
The City of Quesnel has declared a State of Local Emergency, a measure that helps the City quickly do work needed to protect homes, businesses, and infrastructure. The City is working closely with Emergency Management BC to monitor the situation and will provide updates.
Check www.quesnel.ca for updates.
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