HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

River, Hadenschild Creek, and Lean-to Creek washed out or were damaged. Major over-road flow occurred at Star
Creek, Nelson River, the Beaver Flats area (Upper Kitsumkalum River), and Hadenschild Creek.
Floods caused by the heavy rain isolated Native Indian villages and logging camps along the Nass River. On
October 9, the Nass River above Shumal Creek recorded an estimated maximum instantaneous discharge of 8,920 m 3 /s
and a maximum daily discharge of 7,670 m 3 /s. The instantaneous discharge was an all-time high for the period of
record (Environment Canada 1991). The Nass River flooded homes in the Nisga’a village of Greenville. New
Aiyansh, another Nisga’a village, was isolated for several days by road closures. *1) Flooding and washouts also
isolated the Twin River Timber Ltd. base of Nass Camp.
High flows occurred on most of the rivers along the Tseaux and Kitsumkalum River valleys. The Skeena
River at Usk set a new discharge record for the month of October. The instantaneous peak flow at Usk on October 10
was 209,000 cfs (5,929 m 3 /s), and the maximum daily discharge was 5,640 m 3 /s (Environment Canada 1991). The
ferry at Usk was suspended because of the high river levels.
On the Queen Charlotte Islands, widespread slope failures occurred, many in the Rennell Sound area.
Between October 6-8, the weather station, QC Timber camp, at Rennell Sound, recorded 473.7 mm. On October 9,
Crown Forest Products reported a slide blocking a road near Sandspit and several other slides occurring in the Sandspit
area. The area received 20.3 mm of rain in the previous 24 hours and a total of 119.4 mm during the previous 10 days.
On the same date, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans reported a slide at Sachs Creek.
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*1) The Nisga’a population numbers about 6,000. About 2,500 of these live in the Nisga’a villages of Gingolx
(Kincolith), Lakalzap (Greenville); Gitwinksihlkw (Canyon City) and Gitlakdamiks (New Aiyansh). The rest live
elsewhere in Canada.
October 13-16, 1974
Event type: Flooding and debris slides.
Precipitation: Hartley Bay (273.5 mm/2 days), October 13-14, 1974; Nass Camp (73.2 mm/1 day), October 14, 1974;
Sewell Inlet (134.6 mm/1 day), October 14, 1974; Prince Rupert M. Circ (102.9 mm/1 day), October 14, 1974; Tasu
Sound (114.8 mm/1 day), October 14, 1974; Terrace (98.8 mm/2 days), October 14-15, 1974; Prince Rupert (117.1
mm/2 days), October 14-15, 1974; Kemano (151.1 mm/2 days), October 14-15, 1974; Kildala (154.7 mm/2 days),
October 14-15, 1974; Kitimat 2 (174.7 mm/2 days), October 14-15, 1974; Cape St. James (95.5 mm/2 days), October
14-15, 1974; Aiyansh (82.0 mm/2 days), October 14-15, 1974; Ocean Falls (221.0 mm/2days), October 14-15, 1974;
Terrace (71.1 mm/1 day), October 15, 1974; Bella Coola (118.4 mm/2 days) October 15-16, 1974
Source: The Herald, October 16, 1974; The Daily News, October 15, 16, 17 and 18, 1974; The Vancouver Sun, October
16, 1974; Northern Sentinel, October 17, 1974; The Province, October 25, 1974; The Vancouver Sun, October 16 and
17, 1974; Alaska Highway News, October 16, 1974; South East Alaska Empire, October 16, 1974; Meziadin
Environmental Advisory Team 1975 (Vol. 4 Appendix C 1.1); Environment Canada 1991; John A. McDonald,
Fisheries Officer. November 4, 1974. Report of effects of flooding of streams in the Butedale sub-district on October
15 th and 16th, 1974. McMullen et al. 1979; Eurocan Pulp and Paper Co. Ltd., Annual Report, 1974, TFL 41, Kitimat;
Brent Smith, pers. comm. Skeena Cellulose, Terrace; Bill Hough, pers. comm. December 1991, Pacific Northern Gas
Ltd., Vancouver; D. Finlay. DIOD. October 17, 1996. Alice Arm Wing Dam historical summary.
Between October 13-15, Prince Rupert recorded 4.33 in. (110 mm) of rain. *1) On October 14-15, the
Terrace airport recorded 3.23 in. (82.0 mm) of rain in 24 hours, setting a record for October. Precipitation measured in
the 24-hour period starting 6 p.m. on October 14 at the Kitimat Fire Hall, amounted to 4.52 in. (114.8 mm). In the
Nass and Skeena River valleys, the freezing level rose to 12,000 ft. (3,600 m), melting the heavy snowpack that formed
during early October (Meziadin Environmental Advisory Team 1975). Combined with the record rainfall on October
14-15, this caused major flooding on most of the rivers in the area. The Skeena River basin was located mainly outside
the region of intense precipitation.
Heavy flooding occurred in Terrace, particularly in the Horse Shoe area below the bench. Logjams in the
Zymacord River caused severe flooding in New Remo. The peak flows for Hirsch Creek near the mouth and
Zymagotitz (Zymacord) River near Terrace were maximum-recorded flows (McMullen et al. 1979). The Kalum Lake
Road was closed by a washout at Mile 14. A temporary bridge had to be installed. The Nass road was closed earlier in
the week, by several washouts. On the old Lakelse Road, the approach to the wooden bridge at Williams Creek was
washed out. The Cedarvale ferry did not operate because of the high water. Logging operations in the area were
closed.
Highway traffic both east and west of Terrace was interrupted. On Highway 16, a large washout occurred 32
mi. (51.2 km) west of Hazelton. Flooding and mudslides closed Highway 16 between Prince Rupert-Terrace. Between
Mile 8-13, a number of major culverts were plugged. A mudslide came down 60 mi. (96.6 km) east of Prince Rupert.
The mudslide at Kwinitsa pushed a section of the road and part of the adjoining railway embankment into the Skeena
River. Highway 16 was closed until October 17. Near Port Edward, a mudslide occurred between Cassiar-Sunnyside.
The road was closed, isolating three canneries.
Terrace reported more than 10 in. (250 mm) of rain during the first 20 days of October, bringing the Skeena
River 3-5 ft. (0.9-1.5 m) above its normal level since October 7. The high water delayed the $4.5 million highway
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