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Debris danger on Fraser River still high for Coquitlam, New West

Minister Nathan Cullen advised property owners and boaters about the potential heavy- and high-water risk along the Fraser River following the Chilcotin River landslide last week.
Janis Cleugh
Janis Cleugh
fraser-river-fraser-river-discovery-centre
An aerial view of the Fraser River.Fraser River Discovery Centre

While the “pulse” of the water from the Chilcotin River landslide has now moved to the Pacific Ocean, communities along the Fraser River — such as Coquitlam and New Westminster — still need to ready for possible higher and dirtier flows this week.

That’s the message from Nathan Cullen, B.C.’s minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, who gave an update virtually this afternoon, Aug. 8, about the two-river movement since last week’s landslide, and the government response to it.

Cullen, along with Connie Chapman of the province’s Water Management Branch, said the pulse, or water surge, reached Hope on Tuesday, Aug. 6, at 7:30 p.m. and about half of the landslide debris, or 30,000 cubic metres, was captured at the Agassiz debris trap.

All flows have since returned back to normal and warnings removed, they said.

Still, “this debris will be moving for a while” down the rivers, Cullen said, noting woody debris deposited along riverbanks will be picked up in next year’s spring freshet.

Cullen said there have been no significant impacts to infrastructure or property; however, provincial staff, stakeholders and First Nations are monitoring for erosion and further landslides. They are also keeping an eye on the rivers’ salmon stocks.

The minister thanked local governments whose communities are along the Chilcotin and Fraser rivers for “going the extra mile” following the natural disaster.

On Tuesday, the City of New Westminster closed its boardwalk until further notice.

And last Friday, Aug. 2, Coquitlam asked residents to stay away from the Fraser; city staff posted caution signs along United Boulevard and at Maquabeak Park.

“While the city is prepared to handle flood conditions within public spaces, residents and business owners are responsible for general preparations of their property,” the city said in a news release, noting Coquitlam has low-lying private and public properties near the Coquitlam, Pitt and Fraser rivers that are prone to flooding.

If your Coquitlam property is flooded, you can visit the city’s website and/or contact: