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Deepest part of Fraser River shifting course

Flood risk in Fraser Valley receding
21680524_web1_Erosion1

The Fraser River is moving, as rivers tend to do.

In particular, the deepest part of the Fraser River to the northwest of Abbotsford has shifted, council heard Monday.

That part of the river – called the thalweg – has moved to the south, an analysis of 35 years worth of records show. The thalweg has also deepend, according to Stella Chiu, the city’s senior engineer in charge of drainage and wastewater.

The river’s shift likely has implications for erosion along the south bank of the river, and the city’s costly efforts to stop the Fraser from eating into the dikes that protect Matsqui Prairie.

Chiu said that one of several erosion arcs has grown recently.

RELATED: FVRD activates its emergency operations centre to monitor Fraser River levels

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