Metro Vancouver has placed new digital signs at key entrances to Capilano Regional Park, warning visitors of potentially high river levels and quickly changing conditions as a result of anticipated heavy rain this weekend.
The regional government put the signs in place after completing work to lower the spillway gate at Cleveland Lake to below the level of the Cleveland Dam Friday morning.
The spillway gate has now been taken out of service and is expected to remain that way for the rest of the winter, according to Metro Vancouver.
That means during winter months, the water coming from the lake will spill naturally over the spillway and into the river below. Residents and park users will continue to see fluctuations in the river levels as a result of natural weather patterns and gradual release of water through the lower release systems in the dam, according to Metro.
But river levels can still change quickly and Metro is warning everyone to use extreme caution near the river.
Environment Canada issued a heavy rainfall warning for North Vancouver on Friday morning, saying up to 70 millimetres of rain is expected by Saturday morning.
The decision to lower the spillway and take it out of commission comes as Metro Vancouver announced preliminary results of an investigation into an accidental release of water last Thursday that swept multiple people into the Capilano River and resulted in two fatalities.
North Vancouver artist Ryan Nickerson died in river. The body of his son Hugh has not yet been found.
Metro Vancouver has identified human error connected to programming of the control system for the spillway gate at the dam as the reason a massive volume of water was suddenly released into the river, deluging the riverbanks where anglers were out enjoying salmon season.
“Metro Vancouver takes responsibility for this mistake and our deepest sympathies go out to those affected by the tragic loss of life,” said
Metro Vancouver CAO Jerry Dobrovolny in a statement released Thursday morning.
In the statement, Metro says it is now committed to ensuring another similar accident never happens again.
