High water crests over Highway 1 in Cache Creek

May 2, 2023 | 2:05 PM

The flood situation has worsened in Cache Creek — thanks to high levels on the waterway of the same name.

Speaking to CFJC Today‘s Michael Reeve, Mayor John Ranta said water came up over the Trans Canada Highway near Quartz Road overnight from Monday (May 1) to Tuesday.

“It’s just unbelievable what’s happened in the last three or four days,” said Ranta. “There was just a little babbling brook up until about four days ago and then, all of the sudden, the water came up overnight.”

A state of local emergency remains in place in the village and one property is under evacuation alert.

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“It just keeps getting higher and higher and we hope we’re at the end of it — but I said that yesterday and it wasn’t even going over the road yesterday,” said Ranta.

Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

Volunteers have gathered at the nearby Cache Creek Fire Hall Tuesday to fill sandbags and begin to clear an accumulation of mud.

“They’re unbelievable,” Ranta said of the community members who came out. “Every time there’s a problem, they come out in droves and do so much work. It’s amazing, the dedication of the volunteers in this community.”

While the Bonaparte River has historically provided the largest flood concern for the village, the smaller Cache Creek flowing in from the east has brought the highest water in recent years. Ranta believes that is due to a weir on a nearby ranch that is no longer being maintained.

Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

“We need to come up with a permanent solution, whether it be a bridge or digging out the culvert so there’s a better channel for the water to flow through. Obviously, we’re getting more water now than we used to in the past.”

The B.C. River Forecast Centre has left a flood watch in place for a large portion of the B.C. Interior, including areas in the Lower Thompson. Sunshine and warm temperatures have led to an accelerated snowmelt since late last week.