While some residents of B.C.'s Interior have been warned about the potential for flooding, New Westminster residents have nothing to fear at this time.
Dave Jones, the city's manager of emergency management, said the city made preparations in low-lying areas of the city for the possibility of high water.
"We have done all the sandbagging we are going to do," he said Monday. "Everything is ready to go."
On Sunday, the B.C. River Forecast Centre issued a high stream flow advisory for the Lower Fraser River. The centre is continuing to monitor conditions and provide updates.
Jones said the City of New Westminster is anticipating high volumes of water in the Fraser River. He expected to have more information after June 20 (today), when officials have their weekly Wednesday conference call to discuss the provincial situation.
"Wednesday will, pardon the pun, be a watershed day," he said. "We have had a lot of rapid melt and a lot of rain. I think we are going to have a lot of volume - I don't think it is worrisome."
According to the B.C. River Forecast Centre, a high streamflow advisory means river levels are rising or expected to rise rapidly. While minor flooding is possible in lowlying areas, no major flooding is expected.
A flood watch means river levels are rising and will approach or may exceed the top of their banks; a flood warning means river levels have exceeded the banks or will do so imminently, so flooding will occur in areas adjacent to the rivers affected.
The City of New Westminster has posted current information and advisories about the 2012 freshet on the front of its webpage at www.newwestcity.ca. The spring freshet occurs when snow and ice in the mountains begin to melt and fill river systems.
In May, the City of New Westminster announced it was taking action to prepare for the possibility of flooding on the Fraser River because of above-normal snow packs throughout most of B.C.
Jon McDonald, the city's manager of engineering operations, said preparations have included placing equipment like aqua dams at the Quay (tubes that are filled with water and would be placed between buildings at the quay in the event of high water) and large sandbags at another location on the Quay - in case they need to be used.
"We are waiting for the word - if the word comes," he said. "We are ready to go."
McDonald said the city would have a couple days' notice if high water was expected to be an issue in New Westminster.
According to the City of New Westminster, a program of temporary dyking measures developed in 2007 for the downtown waterfront area, and the Braid industrial area utilizing concrete lock blocks and sandbags has been updated for 2012. Seventy-five to 80 per cent of the concrete blocks from 2007 are still in place, and would be used in the event of a highwater event in 2012.
In addition to its current inventory of 30,000 sandbags, the City of New Westminster has made arrangements with local suppliers for additional sandbags, sand, aggregate and temporary pumps if needed.
