HOUSTON, B.C. — Some residents in northern B.C. who had been told to leave their homes because of potential flooding were allowed to return home Sunday, while continued concerns over high water levels kept some residents away and had others preparing to leave at a moment's notice.

The areas most at risk in recent days include Smithers, the Pendleton Bay and Houston, where local states of emergency had been declared in the face of rising water levels, and where some residents were placed under evacuation orders.

Most of the evacuation orders in Houston and Smithers were lifted Sunday as river levels stabilized and cooler temperatures slowed snow melt, according to a notice posted Sunday afternoon to the website of the province's river forecast centre.

But homes in one area of Houston remained under evacuation order, the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako said on its website.

A flood warning remained on the Bulkley River, which flows through Smithers and Houston, and as many as 200 residents in Houston remained under an evacuation alert.

The regional district had lifted evacuation alerts for the Pendleton Bay area, but a local state of emergency remained in effect.

The river forecast centre also had a flood watch in effect for northeastern B.C., the Nicola River and the Bonaparte River, along with a high streamflow advisory for the Fraser River near Fort George and the Nechako River near Prince George.

Last week, officials decided to demolish three homes and a store along the Cottonwood River north of Quesnel due to concerns with the eroding riverbank. The provincial government said it was providing assistance to the affected homeowners.

Flood notices were cancelled in several areas of southeastern B.C. on Sunday morning, including a flood warning for Joseph Creek near Cranbrook, a flood watch for the Kettle and Moyie rivers, and a high streamflow advisory for the Kootenay and Kettle regions.

The river forecast centre says cool temperatures in the southeastern part of the province have kept snow melt under control, although that could change later in the week with warmer weather in the forecast.