Tuesday, December 11, 2012

High Water

A few posts ago I mentioned that we had very high water levels so we headed down to Steveston


and missed high tide by about an hour but the level was nearly up to the pier.   I mentioned that Richmond was located on Lulu Island at an average of about 1 meter ( 3 feet ) above sea level.  If we ever had a Tsunami or a storm surge like the recent one on the Atlantic coast, Richmond would be wiped out


We are not used to seeing the water levels this high


There are not many people walking around this early.  That's Mrs Skoot on the other side


I take a moment to ponder and enjoy the scene.  It's chilly, notice I am wearing a toque and showing off another pair of rarely used shoes


12 comments:

  1. Bob,
    Thanks to the toque definition link. I was more worried about the rope which looked like you were going to hang yourself by leaping off the wharf. There's absolutely no need mate - you won't be socially ostracised for owning a BMW ;-)

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    1. Geoff:

      I usually carry a Merino Wool Toque in my inside pocket, it is much easier to store than a hat. I didn't notice the rope when I was there but it does look like a Noose. Hanging would be an awful way to go, esp with the snapping of your neck, better to just take sleeping pills, or disappear to South America

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  2. If you didn't mention that the water level was high, I would've just thought that the pier might be floating. Is it high water from the river?

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    1. Richard:

      You will notice the pilings in the 2nd photo, which are fixed height over the water line. The first photo shows the floating docks on the left, the right is fixed, on pilings.

      The Fraser River is Tidal as the mouth of the river is close to the ocean, so it rises and falls with the tides, usually 2x per day.

      http://www.waterlevels.gc.ca/eng/station?sid=7735

      right now difference between high and low tides is about 15 ft. When we were there a couple of weeks ago the high tide was 15ft, this weekend it will be 16 ft, which is ONE foot higher than my photos above. May go down there again.

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  3. I almost didn't recognize you with all those clothes on Bob, lol Just kidding!!

    The rain has been making for some pretty high rivers here in Oregon too. No flooding locally but the south coast rivers have flooded. And Highway 20 on the way to Newport from Corvallis had one lane wash away a little bit west of Eddyville.

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    1. Trobairitz:

      I would love to live in the Amazon and just wear leaves. Think of all the money you could save. My threshold is 10°c (being the forecast low). Above 10°c you would find me in Tank tops, shorts and sandals. Below this temp, I look more or less, normal and mostly covered up. But once home, then that's a different story . . .

      The Fraser Valley often floods with our heavy rains but I feel bad about taking photos there when homes are below water. It's like you are there to gawk when they are in misery

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  4. Wow that water level is high. I can remember walking down the gangway when it was a huge slope caused by the low tide when I was there. Look at my picture here http://garysusatour.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/meeting-bobskoot-and-sonja.html - it looks like a different place!

    It must be cold there Bob, as you kept your shoes on.

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    1. Gary:

      You have a good memory. It is great to relive good times as I re-read your post. That gangway is usually sloped downward.

      Those photos of Finn Slough have lots of grass growing out of the river bed. I have photos taken a week ago and you won't believe what it looks like now. The water level is nearly the same height as that footbridge

      It was a bit chilly but your recent comment has me striving to wear shoes, for a while, even though I would have no problems in putting sandals on. There is a chill by the water, and with challenging follicles I find that a toque helps a lot with heat loss

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  5. Isn't that something, living on the inlet I watch water levels rising and falling all the time and also check the tide chart before I go on my walkabouts. This weekend starting Friday water levels are expected to be extraordinarily high.

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    1. Sonja:

      The tides are supposed to be one foot higher this weekend. According to global warming forecasts, this is supposed to be the normal level, eventually as the sea level is rising

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  6. I am glad I don't have real estate in Richmond, at some point that place is going to go under water.

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    1. Dar:

      Since "Sandy", there have been lots of articles about flooding in our low areas; Richmond and parts of Vancouver. 3 more feet and it would be up to that pier. The water is very high. Luckily they don't have many waves in that protected harbour.

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