Crews with the City of Prince George and Fire Rescue Services continue to monitor the conditions on the Nechako River and its confluence with the Fraser. Over the past 24 hours, the river ice has remained stable, with open channels of swiftly flowing water seen along the Nechako. Some of the channels also appear to be widening.
Crews also observed that the Fraser River seems to be opening at the confluence and further down river.
Staff monitoring the river over the past day observed no incidents of residents venturing out onto the dangerous river ice. The City of Prince George reminds the public that going onto the ice is extremely dangerous.
Cottonwood Island Park and the Heritage River Trail from the Cameron Street Bridge to Kiwanis Park remain closed to the public.
Starting at 6 p.m. tomorrow night (December 31, 2016) until 12 p.m. on New Year’s Day (January 1, 2017) a security firm will be patrolling the length of the park and Heritage River Trail to try to dissuade holiday partiers from driving down to the river to celebrate. The measure is being undertaken in the interest of public safety and in the wake of a number of incidents involving residents walking out onto the river ice.
Regular patrols will monitor the river over the holiday long weekend.
