The situation at BC Hydro’s Elko Dam and Generating Station, located 70 km southeast of Cranbrook on the Elk River, has improved over the past 24 hours.
BC Hydro notified Provincial and local emergency officials and issued a public notification yesterday evening that the dam was at risk of having its abutments eroded by the high water flows on the Elk River. An abutment is the structure that supports each side of the dam. BC Hydro crews worked through the night to divert water to minimize damage. Water levels behind the dam have receded from last night and further heavy rainfall is not expected. BC Hydro personnel remain on site and will continue 24 hour surveillance while water levels remain high.
The Elko Dam is a small run-of-river facility that was built in 1924, standing 15.5 metres tall and 66 metres long.
The water levels experienced in this region over the past few days are higher than what occurred in the 1995 flood event. BC Hydro strongly urges the public to stay away from the Elk River and the low-lying land at the mouth of the river near the Koocanusa Reservoir as these areas are currently extremely dangerous and potentially life-threatening due to unpredictable water level changes. The public is urged to respect the barriers and signs preventing access to the areas around the dam facility.
While there are no towns or villages along the Elk River below Elko Dam, BC Hydro is conducting a downstream sweep of the river today. BC Hydro continues to coordinate its operations with the BC Safety Authority and Emergency Management BC.
BC Hydro is also continuing to monitor its infrastructure and facilities in other parts of the Elk Valley. As of this morning, water levels in the Cranbrook and Wasa are starting to recede and there are currently no issues with BC Hydro power polls and distribution lines.
BC Hydro crews are on standby over the weekend to respond to power outages and to disconnect power in flooded areas to protect public safety. If residents affected by flooding have had their power disconnected, for safety reasons they will need to contact a licenced electrician to arrange an inspection before BC Hydro can restore power.