HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

Smithers Landing Road to Babine Lake was closed to heavy trucks because of a washout near Doris Lake. Across the
Bulkley River from Smithers, the Bill Kidd farm was flooded. On the Kispiox Road also a washout occurred.
The Cedarvale ferry was out of service due to high water. The Skeena River also flooded its banks. On
Highway 16 between Terrace-Prince Rupert, minor flooding was reported near Remo and an area 42 mi. (67.2 km)
west of Terrace. On May 22, the Skeena River at Usk recorded a maximum instantaneous discharge of 5,720 m 3 /s.
(Environment Canada 1991). The CNR moved passengers by bus past high water on its line between Prince George-
Prince Rupert.
November 13-20, 1968
Event type: Glacial outburst flood.
Precipitation: Not applicable.
Source: The Daily News, November 13, 14, 15, 16, 19 and 20, 1968; Mathews 1973 (pp. 99-110).
Flooding occurred on the Salmon River near Hyder, Alaska. On November 13, Summit Lake broke through
under a glacier. The water of the lake, which is situated near the mining operations of Granduc Company, poured into
the Salmon River, threatening to flood Hyder. During the night of November 19-20, this fourth recorded jökulhlaup
from Summit Lake reached its climax. During this flood the lake level was well below that of the previous three
recorded outburst floods. Peak flow at the end of the flood was reported to be substantially lower than that of the
earlier events. Damage in the 1968 flood was minor (Mathews 1973). Alaska Department of Highways crews
reinforced the protection dam with gravel. *1) On November 15, the river came up about 4 ft. (1.2 m) and was
expected to peak at 12-14 ft. (3.6-4.2 m). At Mile 7, 200-ft. (60 m) of gravel highway leading to the Granduc Mine
washed out. On November 19, the Salmon River completely washed out the road to the Granduc Mine.
-------------------------------
*1) Gravel washed down into the river built up the riverbanks higher than the ground Hyder is built on. In 1962, the
U.S. Army Engineering Department built a dam of rocks to protect the town.
December 4-7, 1968
Event type: Snow avalanches.
Precipitation: Sandspit A (43.7 mm/1 day), December 4, 1968; Tasu Sound (29.7 mm/1 day), December 5, 1968;
Terrace (65.5mm/1 day =49.8 cm snow), December 6, 1968; Prince Rupert (41.1 mm/1 day), December 6, 1968.
Source: Terrace Omineca Herald, December 11, 1968; The Daily News, December 9, 1968; J. Mekechuck, pers.
comm. 1989. CN Railway, Edmonton, Alta.
On December 6-7, Terrace reported 31 in. (78.7 cm) of snow. On December 6 alone, 20 in. (50.8 cm) fell.
On that same day, 48 in. (121.9 cm) of snow was reported from Salvus and Kwinitsa. CP Air Northern Service was
disrupted and delayed during the weekend.
Highway 16 was blocked for short periods. Snowslides came down at Mile 35, 43, and 50. On December 9,
it was reported that the highway between Terrace-Prince Rupert had over 5 ft. (1.5 m) of snow since December 5.
Power outages occurred in Remo, the Kalum Lake Road area, and Thornhill. Worst hit was Remo, which was without
power for 28 hours. CN telecommunications from Terrace to Prince Rupert, Kitimat, and Smithers were interrupted.
CN reported snowslides at Mile 43.6 and 50.1. The rail line was closed for 12 hours. Some small slides
occurred on December 7-8. A freight train got stuck behind a slide at Mile 50 near Kwinitsa.
December 27-29, 1968
Event type: Icejam flooding.
Precipitation: Not applicable.
Source: The Citizen, December 30, 1968; January 16, 1970; The Vancouver Sun, January 16, 1970.
On December 27 and again on December 29, the Nechako River caused two flood waves near Prince George
when icejams backed up the river. Temperatures on those dates were –34 o F (-36.7 o C) and –32 o F (-35.6 o C),
respectively.
The first flooding started around 10:35 p.m. on December 27 when an iceflow on
the Nechako River jammed at the confluence with the Fraser River. Floodwaters
affected at least 25 houses for several days. On December 28, when the river level
reached 21 ft., about 150 people were forced from their homes on Cottonwood Island.
This was the third time in seven years the area flooded. *1) During this flooding the
water level rose to 23.3 ft. (The Vancouver Sun, January 16, 1970).
On December 29, most of the north side of River Road, all of the area between River Road and the Nechako
River resembled “an icefield.”
-------------------------
*1) About four years earlier, Resources minister and local MLA Ray Williston had offered Cottonwood Island
residents property of equal value outside of Prince George in return for their present home sites. Very few people took
103