HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

Damage to the Kemano River system was at least as severe as that on the Kitimat River. Major changes
occurred in both the main stem and on the lower reaches of the tributaries. Approximately 0.5 mi. (800 m)
downstream from the Eurocan camp, the bank of the Kemano River was cut back about 50 ft. (15 m). The river took
out about 100 yd. (90 m) of the main haul road. The changes caused in the current pattern resulted in changes to bars
and channels downstream. At the confluence of the Kemano River and Cariboo Creek, about 1.5 mi. (2.4 km)
upstream from the Kemano Townsite, a major channel change occurred. An estimated 10 ac. (4 ha) of timber
scheduled to be logged in 1975, was taken out. On the lower reaches of Cariboo Creek, floodwaters spread out over a
large area, causing serious erosion. The vegetation, which was completely removed, was carried down into the
Kemano River. About 0.5 mi. (800 m) of the access road to the Alcan transmission line washed out. Considerable
erosion occurred near the town of Kemano along the Kemano River adjacent to the golf course. An important
spawning area was lost when the portion of Horetzky Creek moved back into an old channel. It left the spawning
channel immediately behind the golf course dry and silted up. From the lower end of the canyon to its confluence with
the Kemano River, Seekwyakin Creek radically changed its course. It took out two sections of the main haul road
when the stream shifted into two old beds, leaving no water under the main bridge. Major gravel movement took
place, leaving most of the former spawning area dry. Though less obvious, changes above the first canyon were
considerable. The lower portion of Wachwas (Creek) was heavily impacted. The many trees that came down the
creek formed jams near the mouth of the creek. The bridge that was installed the previous year across one arm for
access to a recreation area washed out. At this point, the bank was cut back at least 20 ft. (6 m). Localised scouring
occurred on Weewanie Creek. Minor changes in the stream course took place at about the 5-mile point where the
creek spreads out into two or three channels.
The town of Stewart was isolated. The area recorded more than 9 in. (228.6 mm) of rain during the previous
week. Mayor Jon Spires described the situation as the “worst in the past 40 years.” Highway 37A, Stewart to
Meziadin, was closed by a washout at Bear Glacier. The Nass River rose to record heights. The WSC station near
Aiyansh recorded a peak stage of 31.34 ft. At Moore Creek, about 9 km. downstream from the confluence with the
Meziadin River, the water level rose 45 ft. (13.5 m) above spring low water level and flooded the highway. About 7
km downstream from the confluence with the Bell-Irving River, just upstream from a 60-ft. (18 m) wide canyon,
driftwood was deposited at an estimated elevation of 85 ft. (25.5 m) above the low water level. The road grade and
culverts on the east side of Lava Lake sustained extensive damage. About 0.5 mi. (800 m) north of Lava Lake, Crater
Creek flowed on the surface, causing minor erosion along part of the road grade. This was the third and most extreme
flood in October. The Kitimat River, Hirsch Creek, Zymagotitz River, and the Zymoetz River all reached record peak
flows. On the coastal streams below Usk and in the Kitimat basin, new maximum annual discharges were reported
(Meziadin Environmental Advisory Team 1975). The instantaneous peakflows on October 15 were: Zymoetz River
above O.K. Creek, 104,000 cfs (2,940 m 3 /s); Zymagotitz River 19,400 cfs (540 m 3 /s); Exchamsiks River, 25,800 cfs
(731 m 3 /s); Kitimat River below Hirsch Creek, 71,400 cfs (2,021 m 3 /s); Hirsch Creek 28,500 cfs (549 m 3 /s), Little
Wedeene River below Bowbyes Creek, 7,550 cfs (214 m 3 /s); Kemano River above Tailrace, 31,400 cfs (889 m 3 /s).
On October 18, the Bella Coola River above Burnt Bridge Creek recorded a maximum instantaneous discharge of 453
m 3 /s and a maximum daily discharge of 408 m 3 /s (Environment Canada 1991).
Logging roads in the Terrace area sustained heavy damage. A section of the Copper Main haul road between
the Clore River-Limonite Creek along the Zymoetz River was badly damaged with large washouts. *2) Skeena
Cellulose reported a cost of $400,000 to repair its road between the Clore-Kitnayakwa. This included the replacement
of a bridge and major reconstruction of 10 km of road. The Copper Main between Kitnayakwa-Limonite Creek was
left unrepaired and not reconstructed to date. Another $30,000 was spent to repair the road between the highway and
the Clore. Eurocan reported a total damage of $203,031. Of this amount, a total of $162,063 was spent on the Kemano
roads in CP 2. The river scoured large sections of road. Bridges at Mile 8.3 (bridge No. 1), Mile 12, Mile 16.3
(Branch 150 bridge), Mile 17 (Branch 160 bridge), and Mile 22.75 (bridge No. 7) all sustained damage. In CP 1,
Goose Creek bridge had to be rebuilt at a cost of $2,624. Damage to the Pacific Northern Gas pipeline in the Copper
River system totaled approximately $4 million (B. Hough, pers. comm.).
On the Queen Charlotte Islands, widespread slope failures occurred, many in the Rennell Sound area.
Between October 13-14 the weather station in the QC Timber camp at Rennell Sound recorded 192.8 mm of rain. On
October 15, Crown Forests Products reported a slide at Deena. Sandspit received 19 mm of rain in the previous 24
hours and a total of 140.5 mm over the previous 10 days.
Early on October 15 till noon, 40-50 mph (64-80 km/h) winds with gusts up to 70 mph (112 km/h) from a
southwest direction hit Fort St. John. The winds ripped off the shingles and insulation on the curling rink’s rooftop
causing an estimated $6,000 damage. BC Telephone Company reported problems and BC Hydro had a couple of lines
torn down by fallen trees. Several store windows and TV aerials were also damaged. *3)
In October, Alice Arm experienced severe flooding and was classified as a disaster area. The actual repair
cost of 700 linear ft. (210 m) of the existing wingdam and removal of debris from the channel of the Kitsault River was
$26,400. (D. Finlay).
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*1) In the first 15 days of October, Prince Rupert recorded 20 in. (500 mm) of rain. The average for the whole month
of October was 16 in. (400 mm) (The Vancouver Sun, October 16, 1974).
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