Skip to content

Fraser River dropping again after it surged to bank full conditions

River watchers living outside the dike system breathe sigh of relief
21997435_web1_200630-CPL-River-Dropping_1
This was scene on the Fraser River at Island 22 Regional Park in Chilliwack on June 28, 2020. (Jennifer Feinberg/ The Progress)

Property owners across the Fraser Valley outside their community’s dike protection may be breathing a sigh of relief soon.

Fraser River levels are dropping after they surged to bank full conditions Sunday reaching close to six metres at the Mission gauge.

Water levels should remain high on the Lower Fraser Tuesday and Wednesday, at 5.8 to 5.9 metres at Mission and then decrease in the days to follow.

The B.C. River Forecast Centre had predicted that this spring freshet would reach levels not seen since 2012, but the elevated snow pack coming downriver from upper watersheds melted slowly with the cooler weather over the past several weeks.

By the end of the week it should be known if the flood threat has passed.

Some property owners in the unprotected areas were sandbagging Monday and the Island 22 Regional Park has sections closed to the public for public safety reasons by the FVRD.

READ MORE: Flood risk posed by large snowpack

READ MORE: Unprotected areas saw warnings in early May


Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email:
jfeinberg@theprogress.com


@CHWKjourno
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Want to support local journalism during the pandemic? Make a donation here.



Jennifer Feinberg

About the Author: Jennifer Feinberg

I have been a Chilliwack Progress reporter for 20+ years, covering the arts, city hall, as well as Indigenous, and climate change stories.
Read more