Residents stroll riverbed in Prince George amid drought

According to the River Forecasting Center, the water level in the Fraser River at the confluence with the Nechaco River - which has itself turned into a very low water flow in some places - is at its lowest level in history.

The situation is a grim reflection of the drought in Prince George and the dry conditions that have plagued much of the province since the summer of 2023, a situation that BC's emergency minister has called a "sleeping giant of a natural disaster."

The receding river has also created a makeshift park for adults, children and pets to explore the sand and rocks that are normally buried beneath the raging waters.

"It's a sad and strange situation at the same time," Prince George resident George Suarez said as he walked along Gott Island, a small hill usually surrounded by the waters of the Fraser River. It is horrifying to see that the river has almost completely disappeared. "I would like to see more water here."

They walk near the CN Railroad Bridge, built in 1914 by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad and still open to ships and paddleboats, though it has not been needed in recent decades. Is.

The area is also in the land of the Lehdli Thanh, an early nation meaning "people of the confluence" – indicating the importance of the connection of the Fraser and Nechaco Rivers to this nation and the region for centuries.

Spring is when the city typically prepares for flooding, as snowmelt causes river levels to rise — but that won't be a concern for residents this year, according to River Forecast Center hydrologist Jonathan Boyd.

"The chance of any flooding this year [in Prince George] is very low, almost nil, given the low water levels," he said.

Declining snowpack could affect electricity generation in British Columbia in late 2024

With snowpack in the Upper Fraser River, which includes Prince George, 44 percent below normal, Boyd says he fears the drought will worsen this year.

Currently, the basin is at drought level four on a five-point scale, where environmental or socio-economic impacts are likely to occur.

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