Three years after 140 Cheslatta Carrier Nation spirit houses had to be temporarily relocated from their resting place, they are again being moved.

Rising water levels in the Nechako Reservoir are again threatening the Cheslatta Carrier Nation鈥檚 graveyard.

Natural inflows to the Nechako Reservoir have been higher than average for most of 2011.

According to Colleen Nyce, Rio Tinto Alcan鈥檚 manager of corporate affairs, the high water levels have necessitated a higher than average discharge from the Skins Lake Spillway.

She said discharge from Skins Lake Spillway was increased to 515 cubic meters per second on Sept.  29, 2011.

鈥淭his level of discharge will likely be maintained to Oct. 25, at which time spillway discharge will be reduced to approximately 60 cubic metres per second in order to minimize risk of ice jams in the Nechako River.鈥�

Nyce said flow is expected to peak at 520 cubic metres per second in the Nechako River at Cheslatta Falls and 545 cubic metres per second in the Nechako River at Vanderhoof.

鈥淎s a consequence, additional increases in Skins Lake Spillway discharge are required to manage the reservoir to safe levels.鈥�

She said some flooding in the Cheslatta watershed and low lying areas in the Nechako River is expected. 鈥淭here is some flooding in the Cheslatta watershed including the [Cheslatta Carrier Nation] graveyard area.鈥�

鈥淲e are working with the Cheslatta people to minimize the expected impact there.鈥�

Nyce said Rio Tinto Alcan have been in touch with Cheslatta Carrier Nation and are currently working cooperatively with them to prepare for the higher water levels, and to minimize potential impact.