Bow River Bridge pathway closure is a 'typical seasonal step', town reports.
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The provincial government issued an advisory Thursday after the Bow River rose half a metre in a week at Lake Louise and Banff. The high streamflow is attributed to the rapid snowmelt and rainfall. While there are no “significant flooding concerns” currently, warmer temperatures ahead have “the potential to increase mountain snowmelt and may cause additional water level increases along the Bow River and its tributaries,” the government reported.
The Alberta government suggested that the Town of Banff may close some walking trails due to the high-water levels. The Town of Canmore responded to the rise by closing the pathway under the Bow River bridge.
“The Bow River level has dropped since its peak on May 17. It is within normal yearly range; however it is higher than its normal range for mid-May,” the Town of Canmore’s update read Tuesday morning. “Groundwater levels are still rising and some areas in valley bottom are affected. The pathway under the Bow River bridge is closed. There is still a high streamflow advisory for the Bow River. ”
In the wake of the 2013 flood, the Town of Canmore created the Mountain Creek Hazard Mitigation Program. It included both short and long-term mitigations plans.
“There have been larger events in the past and the goal of the program is to install infrastructure that protects the community against these potential larger events that may occur in the future,” the town’s website states.
Andy Esarte is the town’s manager of engineering services. In an interview Friday, he said that the recent rise was anticipated.
“We have a fairly typical flow and a fairly typical snow pack at this point,” said Esarte.
“We are on flood watch. The province is updating us regularly.”
Esarte added that closures around town — like at the Bow River bridge pathway — were also expected.
“We watch the forecasts carefully this time of year and have plans in place for if we get various forecasts for rainfall amounts. For our steep creeks, we have plans in place for various forecasts. And then for the Bow River, we’ll get flow forecasts — so how much water flows into the Bow River,” Esarte said. “So we respond to that and the first step is to close the pathways under the Bow River Bridge. That’s a very typical seasonal step that we take. Beyond that, if we get higher forecasts, there are a number of steps that we would take.”
The crucial elements that they watch closely for are those larger rain events heading towards the valley, Esarte added.
“At this point, there’s nothing in a forecast that would indicate that we should be doing anything more than watching, so that’s what we’ll continue to do.”
For more information about river advisories, go to rivers.alberta.ca
MMcEwan@postmedia.com