Kamloops city crews on alert as Thompson Rivers rise

May 30, 2017 | 2:39 PM

KAMLOOPS — The City of Kamloops is watching nervously at the slow rise of the Thompson Rivers through the city.

Utility Services Manager Greg Wightman says the city has shut down pedestrian use of the Rivers Trail between Pioneer Park and Riverside Park because the water is so high.

“That happened just a couple of days ago, where we noticed the level had got to a point where we figured it was best to close it down for pedestrian safety. For anyone that is doing anything around the river right now, just be aware there is obviously some high flows, some high water — water in places you don’t typicality see the rest of the year. Be really cautious when you are around the river, and remain safe.

Wightman adds the city is getting forecasts from Environment Canada and the BC River Forecast Centre, and each time the river reaches a new landmark, it will trigger a new set of preparation work.

“Based on what we see in the forecast there, we have trigger points set where we start enacting different actions as we get to those levels.”

“We are on weekly dike inspections, just making sure the dikes around town are holding up, and there is no issues with them. We have started proactively sealing up some catch basins that we know, when the waters rise, they are susceptible to some surcharging — which is basically when the water level in the river rises to a point where the water starts to come out of the catch basin.”

Meantime, the B.C. River Forecast Centre has also issued a high streamflow advisory for both the North and South Thompson Rivers.