The city has declared a level one emergency as the ice jam on the Nechako River has reached the confluence of the Fraser River.
Level one means there is a "heightened awareness" in place, city spokesman Mike Kellett said.
If a level two is invoked, the city's emergency operations centre, located at Fire Hall No. 1 next to city hall, will be manned 24 hours per day.
The situation is monitored around the clock and the provincial government Emergency Management B.C. has been notified that assets, such as gabion diking, could be needed in short order to mitigate potential damage.
Cottonwood Island Park remains open, but residents are advised to use caution all along River Road. A section of the Heritage River Trail from the Cameron Street Bridge to Kiwanis Park near the boat launch remains closed to the public.
As of Thursday morning, the river's flow was estimated at 200 cubic metres per second. That's twice the normal level for this time of year and one of the thresholds seen as a precursor to a repeat of the winter of 2007-08, when the river burst its banks.
It forced the evacuation of homes and businesses along the river as the jam grew to nearly 15 kilometres. A state of emergency lasted 64 days before it was called off in mid-February 2008.
The bill for the emergency - including the cost of overtime and putting temporary diking in place - reached $4.3 million with the province covering 80 per cent of the total and the city the remaining 20 per cent.
