Nicola Valley ranchers’ concerns grow over spring freshet

NICOLA VALLEY, B.C. — Ranchers in the Nicola Valley are calling on the provincial government to speed up the process of handing out Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) before spring freshet.

Since the catastrophic floods occurred in November 2021, many properties are still damaged and in need of flood barriers before water levels rise within the next few months.

John Anderson’s ranch, Kane Lake Ranch, is in the Nicola Valley. His irrigation house was destructed, but what he wants replaced most are the damaged flood barriers that were in place to protect his property and help slow down the river.

“There’s a sense of urgency that needs to take place before — at least some emergency work done — before the high spring freshet,” Anderson says.

Anderson says his property was the least damaged in comparison to the neighbouring ranches downstream.

Many suffered severe damages and according to Anderson, some are hanging on by a thread and are in dire need of protection before spring.

“We’ve had an indication from different level of government that there is going to be some help, but we have no details on how that’s going to look… or when it’s going to come ” he explains.

According to Anderson, the province suggested ranchers spend the money on repairs and barriers themselves, which could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars — and there’s no guarantee they’ll be reimbursed.

In an email to CFJC News, Emergency Management BC said:

“Emergency Management BC is working hard to process Disaster Financial Assistance claims. We know people need this money. Due to the extreme nature of this event, Disaster Financial Assistance claims could take longer to process than in the past as we are hit by a surge of applications. We understand that people need these payments and we have recently made changes in the administration of the program to speed up the process.”

The province adds that it recently made changes in administration to speed things up, like adding more staff to process applications and more site inspectors.

“People are very concerned about losing more property, or even their houses, with the high spring flow,” Anderson rebuts.

With Spring just around the corner, he says anxiety is growing.

“I’m confident that there’s enough damage along the river system, without some immediacy to this whole fixing of problems that have been created — there will be more damage in the spring freshet,” he told CFJC News.