The Columbia River on Wednesday continued to rise at Vancouver, fueled by a late, wet spring weather pattern that only now seems to be moderating. At 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Columbia River at Vancouver was at 17.23 feet. Flood stage is 16 feet.
The National Weather Service is continuing a flood warning for the next several days, and now predicts the river to crest at 17.97 feet on Saturday afternoon. At that level, flooding will be limited to low-lying areas such as the Vancouver Waterfront and Salmon Creek Greenway trails and Washougal’s Capt. William Clark Park at Cottonwood Beach.
Water releases from Bonneville Dam, which are a major factor in determining the river level, are expected to remain about the same throughout the rest of the week, according to the weather service.