Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: chris gadsden on May 29, 2007, 03:36:45 AM
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I hope I am right but I have the feeling we have dodged the bullet on the 2007 flood here in the Valley or am I just lulled into it not happening as we heard so much hype the last month about it and it had not happened yet.
The temperatures in the high snow level areas have been quite cool so maybe the worse is yet to come. I was told a theory the other day that has happened, the ground did not freeze very hard this Winter before the snow fell so some of the melt is just going into the ground, not running off a quickly if the earth surface was sealed over.
Also a rancher says this has happened around Clinton, the snow melted and did not fill up his watering holes for his range cattle like it has in the past.
I guess we still have to wait and see and the gauge at South Fort George is on the rise again this morning and nearing 8 meters. It had reached 9 a while back during a period of heavy rain.
Anyway we should be ok for a few days so off to the lakes with "The Master" shortly as I can not catch that first chinook of the season, only one jack landed and one lost for 6 outing.
I am keeping my figures crossed on two counts, no flood and I catch more and a bigger fish than "The Master". ;D ;D ;D I guess a flood will happen before that. ::)
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Hope you're right Chris but we'll know soon enough. They are predicting some high temperatures the next couple of days.
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Still alot of snowpack left, Bulkley is just starting to flood. I don't think it will flood but it will get close ;)
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Thompson is rising. Also the Albion ferry has already announced that if the river hits 6m then it is small cars and foot passengers only. Fraser Health is now making sure that employees have their ID with them at all times as that is the only way that they are allowed to travel on dissaster routes as they have to reach the hospitals( my wife was informed today). We with the school board just get to sit at home ;D ;D ;D ;D.
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Hey fly I don't know which district you work for, but us Dist 43 ground pounders were all given those yellow labeles for our driver's licences (disaster responce). Yes we have been trained! You have to laugh though when you think that if there is a breech in the dike our command center will be 20ft under water. "Oh What To Do", follow protocall and make every effort to report to work or risk a written reprimand for staying home.
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Hey fly I don't know which district you work for, but us Dist 43 ground pounders were all given those yellow labeles for our driver's licences (disaster responce). Yes we have been trained! You have to laugh though when you think that if there is a breech in the dike our command center will be 20ft under water. "Oh What To Do", follow protocall and make every effort to report to work or risk a written reprimand for staying home.
Dist 36. Transportation Failure. I guess if Maple Ridge becomes an Island the failure becomes true. The only problem is I need to get to work as some buildings we have are emergency social services sites. As far as I know the district and the union have no plans in place in case the buildings need to be used or if employees can not get to work. The health regions have had plans in place for awhile now. Employees that can not get to their hospital they will go to the nearest hospital that needs them the most.
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As of today the water still isn't high enough for really good creekmouth fishing yet, I guess we'll know in a week or so what's coming. I just hope the evening news will spare us the photos of that park in Prince George that goes under every time the water crests or the one in Kamloops that's on the flood plain there. Every time the snow pack is up we seem to get inudated with sensationalism from the media and all levels of government trying to appear like they are doing something. Face it, the spending in Stanley Park to repair the damages from last winters wind storm is going to be over 2 mil, the 33 million the province and federal government spent on dyke preparation for the whole province is just a drop in the bucket.
As I can see the river looking out my front window, I sure hope I'm not eating my words a week from now.
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Look at the capilano, we've had like 10 days of sun and the damn is still filling up, there is lots of snow to come. Just hopefully not enough so that u guys can have it easy and just fish from ur balcony. ;D But all joking aside we all want the snow to melt slowly!
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Not looking promissing..............
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/rfc/river_forecast/Freshet2007/Forecasters_comments_03Jun2007_0800.pdf
If you haven't started to prepair, I would suggest doing so now.
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Cooling temperatures in Prince George today may save our bacon here in the Valley, lets also hope the rain stays away for the next few days in the upper reaches. :-\
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been pouring buckets for 2 days PG kelowna area.
Prince George Airport reports light rain the last few hours. Also river levels at South Fort George rose only 3 cm last 5 hours, and Hope the same so things are starting to improve. I surmise unless we get heavy rain the threat is nearly over. Looked at the bank near Old Orchard Road and a fair ways to get over the natural banks but there is some seepape going on. Of course tide could effect things in the Maple Ridge area, remember the media like to hype things to draw viewers. As one that freelances for Global TV I know that first hand. :o
Also another key is the temperature which is favorable, only 13 degrees at noon at PG. ;D ;D
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been pouring buckets for 2 days PG kelowna area.
Prince George Airport reports light rain the last few hours. Also river levels at South Fort George rose only 3 cm last 5 hours, and Hope the same so things are starting to improve. I surmise unless we get heavy rain the threat is nearly over. Looked at the bank near Old Orchard Road and a fair ways to get over the natural banks but there is some seepape going on. Of course tide could effect things in the Maple Ridge area, remember the media like to hype things to draw viewers. As one that freelances for Global TV I know that first hand. :o
Also another key is the temperature which is favorable, only 13 degrees at noon at PG. ;D ;D
do you think its going to flood our area chris? i was positive it wasnt going to flood im not sure now, the water is nearly on the road at old orchard now. who knows in the next few days, the roads by catermole and the freeway are dykes as well as the freeway itself, there is seeping along the dyke by the vedder you can see quite a bit of water in the field there
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been pouring buckets for 2 days PG kelowna area.
Prince George Airport reports light rain the last few hours. Also river levels at South Fort George rose only 3 cm last 5 hours, and Hope the same so things are starting to improve. I surmise unless we get heavy rain the threat is nearly over. Looked at the bank near Old Orchard Road and a fair ways to get over the natural banks but there is some seepape going on. Of course tide could effect things in the Maple Ridge area, remember the media like to hype things to draw viewers. As one that freelances for Global TV I know that first hand. :o
Also another key is the temperature which is favorable, only 13 degrees at noon at PG. ;D ;D
Kanaka creek area is like a lake as well as the stave. My wife took the Albion ferry today to get to work and she had to drive up the ramp instead of down the ramp to the ferry. The ferry workers where also preparing sand bags for the parking lot. The only dike by the ferry is the railway tracks. My house could flood but it all depends on how much rain we get this week and the tides and I don't live near the fraser but I am just off the Allouette.
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I donot think we have anything to worry about here where we live, for the reasons you mentioned. South Fort George gauge up .111 which is a little over 4 inches, in over 13 hours.
Hope, up a little over 3 inches in the same time period. Mission is up 10 inches but it could be because of the tidal effect, as the water nears the river mouth and backs up some. Of course you have the Vedder and Harrison that adds to the runoff, both being below the Hope gauge and will effect the Mission gauge.
I am no expert on how much the tide and being near the river estuary effects things.
Also in 1948, the big flood year the Mission gauge reached 8.2 we are now at 5.69 which is 8 feet lower than 1948's level, discharge rate was 15,300.
In 1972 another high water year Mission gauge was 7.4 so we have nearly 6 feet to reach that level. Discharge was 13,000. Right now it is 10,000
I have also talked to a few people in the know on the current situation and I will go out on a limb and say we will be okay here unless we get a lot of rain and warm temperatures in the next week or so. The flooding going on now is homes that do not have dyke protection The low temperatures have helped as well of course but maybe will be adding some snow pack for next year. ;D ;D
I have layed my cards on the table with these facts, time will tell if I win this poker game. ;D ;D
I have not checked the snow pillows throughout the province to see how the water content is doing, will later.
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been pouring buckets for 2 days PG kelowna area.
Prince George Airport reports light rain the last few hours. Also river levels at South Fort George rose only 3 cm last 5 hours, and Hope the same so things are starting to improve. I surmise unless we get heavy rain the threat is nearly over. Looked at the bank near Old Orchard Road and a fair ways to get over the natural banks but there is some seepape going on. Of course tide could effect things in the Maple Ridge area, remember the media like to hype things to draw viewers. As one that freelances for Global TV I know that first hand. :o
Also another key is the temperature which is favorable, only 13 degrees at noon at PG. ;D ;D
Kanaka creek area is like a lake as well as the stave. My wife took the Albion ferry today to get to work and she had to drive up the ramp instead of down the ramp to the ferry. The ferry workers where also preparing sand bags for the parking lot. The only dike by the ferry is the railway tracks. My house could flood but it all depends on how much rain we get this week and the tides and I don't live near the fraser but I am just off the Allouette.
I dont think we have to worry about Kanaka. I live close to it. It gets that high and higher after we get substantial rain. The Fraser is still a ways away from the By-Pass so I dont think it well make too much of an impact going over the highway. Its up but not at a point to worry. I do believe that the By-Pass itself could get flooded from the Fraser as its lower down there.
As far as the tides go yes they make a difference as much as a 3 foot difference. The people on Wharf St that are right on the river and well most likely get flooded. The people across the street have a chance of getting flooded out as well. If it goes over the street it could effect about 200 homes.
The Albion could be shut down as early as Friday. I live 2 mins from the ferry and that river is raging. I have still seen boats on the river fishing though in the lower river. I couldnt believe it when I saw it but I did. I spoke to Randy at Hatchmatchr and he even told me they are doing well for sturgeon but I think they are just crazy.
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Checked the dyke at the Vedder Canal at dark. Water is at least 12 feet below the dyke, that is if my old surveyor's eyes can still estimate vertical difference. ;D ;D
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Freshet slowing down.The last 7 hours overnight, Prince George up only 3 cm. Temp. only 6 at 5 am. Hope up 1 cm in the same time period, discharge still at 10,000. Mission up .12 mostly because of the tide change, level only at 5.744.Thompson River at Spences Bridge up 2 cm.
These facts tell me flood threat over for at least a few days and most likely for the 2007 freshet season except some areas not covered by dykes.
I wonder if the news media will report these facts or go back showing the park at Prince George, they should put a web camera there.
I think we have been dealt that winning poker hand. ;D ;D ;D
Now if the Leafs can win the Stanley Cup this coming season. ;D ;D ;D
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Freshet slowing down.
Is it pronounced "fresh-ette" or "fresh-ay"? Because the "et" in "fresh'et" is sort of french sounding.
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How far from the high mark is it at hells gate?
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Well as flooding concerns ease here in the Valley, I would like to think that the provincial government will mobilize as many emergency forces as available to help those folks up North. Does not look good for those that live in and around the communities of Smithers and Terrace.
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Terrace is only flooding in the usual areas.
New Remo, Skeena St...a few areas on the south side.
The problem with Terrace is that access is hurting.
The highway east of town is flooded. Mudslide problems. The railroad is starting to buckle in a few places.
However, very few residents in Terrace have to worry about flooding problems. Basically the same ones flood year after year.
Why someone would build a house on the floodplain sandwiched right between the lower Kalum and the Skeena is beyond me.
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Freshet slowing down.
Is it pronounced "fresh-ette" or "fresh-ay"? Because the "et" in "fresh'et" is sort of french sounding.
I believe the former.
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It's the former.
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I heared the lowermainland will most likely not flood ???
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I heared the lowermainland will most likely not flood ???
As I first posted that fact on March 29th. ;D ;D ;D I backed that up reasons the last few days. We must remember the media likes to broadcast doom and gloom. Of course there has been flooding in areas not protected by dykes and this happens during above average flows. Of course we feel for them.
While I am on a roll I think I will forcast a Leaf Stanley Cup next season. I will back it up with the signing of Sundin and many developing young stars. They will just flood the opposition's nets with goals. ;D ;D ;D get it flood. ;D ;D ;D
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The Make Beliefs' aspirations will be flushed away with the spring freshet as it has been for the past 40 years. It's an annual event. ;D
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Thank-you Chris Gadsden for reinterinating your statement about the flood warning/watch in the Lower Mainland. I talked to my parents up in PG, the water is still high but not the catastrophe the media is making it out to be.
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I heared the lowermainland will most likely not flood ???
As I first posted that fact on March 29th. ;D ;D ;D I backed that up reasons the last few days. We must remember the media likes to broadcast doom and gloom. Of course there has been flooding in areas not protected by dykes and this happens during above average flows. Of course we feel for them.
While I am on a roll I think I will forcast a Leaf Stanley Cup next season. I will back it up with the signing of Sundin and many developing young stars. They will just flood the opposition's nets with goals. ;D ;D ;D get it flood. ;D ;D ;D
Too bad the opposing teams will FLOOD the Leafs net with more goals since Raycroft will be the one in goal LMAO!!!
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Checked the dyke at the Vedder Canal at dark. Water is at least 12 feet below the dyke, that is if my old surveyor's eyes can still estimate vertical difference. ;D ;D
Chris what type of surveying did you do? Just curious, cause I'm doing construction surveying for work this summer.
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Highway engineering for 35 years and now retired for 9 so I have forgot every thing I ever knew. ;D ;D ;D
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Well if this is it that's gotta be about as close to a flood as I really want to see.
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Posting these photos for Chris.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/cgadsden/070609_05.jpg)
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/cgadsden/070609_06.jpg)
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/cgadsden/070609_07.jpg)
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/cgadsden/070609_08.jpg)
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Thanks Rodney the first is at the Old Orchard Boat launch area, the other a view of Bowman's Bar, under water. ;D ;D I believe there will be many changes of the bars after this high water event.
The next is of Ballam Road and the other is at the Vedder Canal with 12 to 14 feet from the present water edge to the top of the dyke. It makes one wonder how high it would have to get at the Mission Gauge to top the dyke here.
They sure have downgraded the Mission gauge from a forcast once again of 7.5. 7 then 6.5, and finally 6.3. I still believe it will have to go some to reach 6 this go around.
Maybe the gravel they say has built up in the Fraser is not once what they think it is. ;D ;D Of course that is another story.
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Yes a couple of sites on the Fraser River in the Seabird Island area.
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Now the question will Mission make the magic 6.00 mark, presently it is at 5.96 early Sunday morning and that may be a tidal effect at the present.
One has to wonder the accuracy of those predicting these levels as we know they said it was going to be 7.5 last week. Even with the onset of cooler weather they still kept it at 7, then 6.5 and then the final height was 6.3 and as I said above it has not reached 6.
I guess it is better to be safe than sorry. I see South Fort George is dropping quickly now and as we near the middle of June I think we can say the threat of a major flood threat of 2007 here in the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland is now history, do you agree?
Maybe time to pick up all those sand bags around Five Corners here in Chilliwack but maybe we can leave them there and use the sand for a major snow storm during the Winter of 2008.
Remember the topic of weather is one of the major topic of people around the water cooler and in this case I feel the media fueled that fire.
I am forgeting about the weather, the flood that was not to be and going fishing, I hope my Maple Leaf Drennan float disappears under the water, darn there is that water topic again. ;D ;D ;D
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Don't worry as I said PG dropping like a rock but it could go up again but it needs a lot of water to keep it at these high levels.
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Water is just starting to go down in Laidlaw, about 2 cm on the guage. It'll probably take a bit of a weather anomoly to bring it back up now. Going up to Hells Gate this afternoon for some pictures of the peak.
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post these photos for Chris.
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/cgadsden/070615_5.jpg)
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/cgadsden/070615_6.jpg)
Pictures of "The Abbotsford Hole" and "The Frog" on the Thompson River.
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The lower mainland looks safe this year. We monitor the river levels at work 24x7. Our emergency centre just stood down so unless we get a pineapple express with severe hot weather we outlook is excellent. I live in the flood plain in Poco and am no longer worried. Cheers!
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I think we dodge a bullet this year. Who knows what the future holds.
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I think we dodge a bullet this year. Who knows what the future holds.
The Leafs win the Cup. ;D ;D ;D
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And Chris will discover the fountain of youth. He's going to need it to see the Leafs win another Cup.