Warm weather could cause the Bonaparte River to keep rising through the weekend

CACHE CREEK, B.C. — As the Bonaparte River continues to flow at 100-year flood levels, village emergency operations staff remain vigilant should the river crest its banks.

Cache Creek EOC Information Officer Wendy Coomber says the BC River Forecast Centre predicts the Bonaparte will continue to rise slowly over the weekend due to the upcoming hot weather.

With more snow yet to melt to the north of the community, there is still the chance that the river could breach its banks early next week.

“It is rising very slowly. It hasn’t crested the bank yet, which is nice for everyone. It gives us a little more breathing room,” Coomber tells CFJC Today, via a Zoom call on Thursday afternoon (May 11). “It is predicted to rise this weekend or early next week, with the warm weather and the snowmelt we expect. We’ve been advised there’s snow up north in the Hihium area and around Bonaparte Lake, which is the headwaters of the Bonaparte River.”

Coomber also says that the Village of Cache Creek has applied to the province for the flood to be considered a Disaster Financial Assistance event. That would mean residents and businesses could be eligible for Disaster Financial Assistance funding to help recoup some costs.

“That doesn’t cover everything. If approved, that only covers 80 per cent of the approved costs. For the people who are affected by the flood, don’t expect to be reimbursed for everything.”