The Nechako ice jam is no longer an emergency situation.
The city called off a level one emergency Tuesday, 19 days after it was first activated as channels along both the Nechako and the Fraser have opened up and the volume of water flow had dropped from a threatening level.
However, the return of the cold this week has lengthened the ice cover on the Nechako to about 23 kilometres from the confluence, the city said in a statement, and Cottonwood Island Park and the Heritage River Trail remain closed to the public.
A level one emergency means the city's emergency operations centre, located at the No. 1 fire hall, was opened and the river was being monitored around the clock. As well, heavy equipment was brought in to break open a channel through Cottonwood Island Park, a $97,000 expense to Emergency Management B.C.
Public works staff will continue to keep an eye on the river, the city said.
