the largest flood of british columbia's fraser river on record occurred in may 1894, when rapid snow melt caused river levels to rise dramatically, triggering flooding from agassiz to richmond. the flood was significant in both height and breadth. in 2008 northwest hydraulic consulatants (nhc) recommended the adoption of the following flood frequency estimates at the hope gauge on the fraser river: 100 year daily maximum flow ; 200 year daily maximum flow ; 500 year daily maximum flow . the fraser's highest recorded flow, in june 1894, is estimated to have been or within a range of about at hope. based on these flows the 1894 flood had a return period of slightly more than 500 years and the 1948 flood was close to a 200-year event. of the two catastrophic floods on the lower fraser river since european settlement in the fraser valley, the flood of 1894 is considered to be the "flood of record" but the flood of 1948 caused greater damage because of "intensive development" on the flood plain.