HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

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355.0 mm of rain. Only four days had no rain. The caption of a photograph in The Herald reads: “Heavy weekend rains overflowed many a creek.” On October 22-23 in Ocean Falls, heavy rains flooded telephone cables, putting the entire system out of order for 24 hours. A large manhole near the BC Tel office filled with over 10 ft. (3 m) of water, shorting out a 3,200 (pair) wire cable. Communications with the “outside” were interrupted. The fire alarm system to Martin Valley was also put out of order. Between October 21-26, a slide occurred at Rennell Sound. The area received 244 mm of rain in six days. MacMillan Bloedel reported a slide at Dinan Bay and a slide on Louise Island. November 1977 October 29-November 1, 1978 Event type: Flooding and debris slides. Precipitation: Kitimat 2 (392.7 mm/4 days), October 29-November 1, 1978; Prince Rupert M. Circ (226.0 mm/4 days), October 29-November 1, 1978; Masset (75.5 mm/3 days), October 30-November 1, 1978; Sewell Inlet (422.2 mm/3 days), October 30-November 1, 1978; Tasu Sound (170.4 mm/3 days), October 30-November 1, 1978; Kitimat Townsite (257.9 mm/3 days), October 30-November 1, 1978; Kitimat 2 (369.4 mm/3 days), October 30-November 1, 1978; Aiyansh (177.4 mm/3 days), October 30-November 1, 1978; Falls River (338.0 mm/3 days), October 30- November 1, 1978; Salvus (151.3 mm/3 days), October 30-November 1, 1978; Salvus Camp (156.3 mm/3 days), October 30-November 1, 1978; Kildala (230.1 mm/3 days), October 30-November 1, 1978; Hartley Bay (331.5 mm/3 days), October 30-November 1, 1978; Kemano (184.4 mm/2 days), October 31-November 1, 1978; Sandspit A (120.3 mm/2 days), October 31-November 1, 1978; Stewart A (232.3 mm/5 days), October 30-November 3. 1978; Bella Coola (101.2 mm/2 days), October 31-November 1, 1978; Prince Rupert (102.1 mm/2 days), October 31-November 1, 1978; Terrace (203.9 mm/2 days), October 31-November 1, 1978; Ocean Falls (196.8 mm/3 days), October 31- November 2, 1978. Source: Northern Sentinel, November 2, 1978; Southeast Alaska Empire, November 3 and 7, 1978; Terrace-Kitimat Daily Herald, November 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7, 1978; The Thunder Bird, (Bella Coola) November 14, 1978; The Daily News, November 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8, 1978; February 28, 1995; The Interior News, November 8, 1978; December 7, 1978; Daily Colonist, March 21 and 22, 1979; The Vancouver Sun, October 31, 1978; The Province, November 16, 1979; Terrace Standard, October 7?, 1992; McMullen et al. 1979; Johnson 1984; Environment Canada 1991; Schaefer 1979 a ; Schaefer 1979 b; Scanlon and Taylor 1979; Lewis and Moran 1985 (p. 5.218, Storm No. 105); Mariners Weather Log, Vol. 23, No. 2, 1979; B.C. Ministry of Forests, Queen Charlotte City; Schwab 1983; B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Highways 1980 (p. 303); European Pulp & Paper Co. Ltd., Annual Report 1978, TFL 41, Kitimat; Brent Smith, pers. comm. Skeena Cellulose, Terrace; T. Wardrop (B.C. Forest Service, Terrace). Damage Assessment Copper River Forest Road, Clore River Operational Road; T. Wardrop, pers. comm. December 1991. B.C. Ministry of Forests, 100 Mile House; Letter D.G. MacKinnon (Can. Cellulose Co. Ltd. Twin River Woodlands Div., Terrace) to B.C. Min. For., Engineering Div. Smithers; Bill Hough, pers. comm. December, 1991. Pacific Northern Gas Ltd., Vancouver; Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Ltd. 1987. On October 31, Terrace recorded 114.8 mm of rain in 24 hours, setting an all time record any time of the year, with 70-80 km/h winds. On November 1, another 89.1 mm of rain fell in a 24-hour period. The storm appears to have centered around the Terrace-Kitimat area. It originated in a trough of another “low” which was dissipating over Siberia. Before the storm there was little accumulation of snow below the 1,000 m elevation. The storm approached across the Bering Sea and probably reached the height of its influence on October 30. The maximum wind reported was 68 kn. (126 km/h) by a ship coded “GSUE” close to the front at 45.9 o N, 154.5 o W on October 29. Ships reporting to station “WBH-129 Kodiak” were calling in winds up to 70 kn. (130 km/h) and gusts to 90 kn. (166 km/h) (Lewis and Moran 1985). The bulk of the storm’s rainfall resulted from the passage of two frontal waves under a strong southwestern flow of warm moist air aloft. Sandspit airport recorded the largest two-day storm with 120.3 mm. An estimate of the frequency of the multi-day event based on 30 years of records from Sandspit airport is between 75-95 years (Schaefer, 1979a). Sewell Inlet recorded a total rainfall of 879.3 mm for the month of October, and 1,132.2 mm for the period October 1-November 5. The Atmospheric Environment Service concluded that snow melt did not likely play an important role in this event (Schaefer 1979b). Snowmelt at higher elevations, however, is believed to have contributed to this event. According the weather specialist at the Terrace airport Harry Earle, the flooding was triggered by heavy rain and high freezing levels resulting in snowmelt in the mountains. (Terrace Standard, October 7?, 1992). Flows on the coastal streams peaked on November 1. The instantaneous maximum daily discharges were: Zymagotitz River 18,700 cfs (530 m 3 /s), Exchamsiks River 30,500 cfs (863 m 3 /s), Kitimat River 99,900 cfs (3,000 m 3 /s), Hirsch Creek 23,500 cfs (681 m 3 /s), Little Wedeene River 13,500 cfs (382 m 3 /s), Zymoetz River (on November 2) 111,000 cfs (3,140 m 3 /s) (Environment Canada 1991). Both the Zymagotitz and the Zymoetz Rivers overflowed their banks on November 2. The Bulkley River at Quick recorded a maximum daily discharge of 547 m 3 /s on November 2. The estimated maximum daily discharge for the Skeena River at Usk was 3,949 m 3 /s on November 3 130
(Environment Canada 1991). It rose 12 ft. (3.6 m) in 40 hours and was barely below the flood level at Terrace. Flows on the Nanika and Morice rivers were not near their historical extremes. Highway 16 between Prince Rupert-Terrace experienced flooding along Taylor, Diana, and Prudhomme lakes. Much of the low-lying boglands on both sides of the highway were flooded. Highway 16 east of Terrace was closed. There were 44 washouts between Terrace-Hazelton and three bridges, Chimdemash, Legate, and Little Oliver creeks went out. The areas around Lakelse Lake and Remo were worst hit. The water level in Lakelse Lake rose within three days from a normal 71.5-m elevation to peak at 74 m on late November 1. *1) Approximately 60% of the dwellings and cottages on the lake, including almost all lakefront lots on the east shore were flooded. Large quantities of forest debris were carried into Lakelse Lake. The material, combined with floating debris such as fences, lumber, and firewood, was blown by high winds to further damage flooded homes. Much debris finally ended up at the north end of the lake along the shore of the Provincial Park. The cost of disposal of driftwood debris, removal of blowdowns and general cleanup of Lots 682, 3391, 3980, 3981, 4489, and 5133 was estimated at $32,000. Flooding occurred in Thornhill (Woodland Heights), Kitamaat Village, Terrace, and Kitimat. Highway 25 between Terrace-Kitimat was closed. Williams Creek washed out and in places the highway was under 6-7 ft. (1.8-2.1 m) of water. Old Lakelse Road was closed by washouts at Hatchery Creek near Oli’s Place. The stream channel of Furlong Creek, a small tributary of Lakelse Lake, migrated on its alluvial fan surface to wash out a private road access below the Kitimat- Terrace highway. The cost of channel restoration work was estimated at $2,000. Granite (Hatchery) Creek, another creek flowing into Lakelse Lake, broke out of its channel in two places because of log jamming and sedimentation, combined with stream erosion processes. The migrated flows caused extensive erosion damage to existing roads and flooding of several houses. Debris and sediment were deposited over a wide area. Along Hatchery Creek, heavy erosion occurred along the entire length of the channel between Highway 25 and Lakelse Lake. Most damage took place along the course of the south channel. A major breakout occurred to the south, where flood flows extensively damaged roads and property (McMullen et al. 1979). Large amounts of debris and sediment were deposited along the channel and carried into the lake and the 1st Avenue bridge was washed out. On Williams Creek, about a dozen logjams occurred. The cost of removal of these was estimated at $18,000. Two areas along Williams Creek adjacent to the old, now washed-out, Terrace Road Bridge suffered severe erosion. The cost of the required bank restoration and bank protection was estimated at $10,000. Schulbuckhand Creek and several smaller streams near the Hot Springs Hotel on the northeast side of Lakelse Lake flooded due to inadequate channel capacity and blocked culverts. The cost of stream cleaning work was estimated at about $11,000. The peak flow that occurred on Hatchery Creek late on November 1 was estimated at 200 m 3 /s. The flooding was considered severe, probably a 50- to 100-year event (Northwest Hydraulic Consultants 1987). A logjam in Hirsch Creek occurred on the inside bend, on the edge of the Provincial Park, downstream of the Highway 25 bridge. The cost of removal of the jam was estimated at $3,000. Hirsch Creek peaked on November 1 at 23,500 cfs (665 m 3 /s). *2) Along Kleanza Creek, 15 km northeast of Terrace, erosion of existing bank protection occurred along approximately 100 m of stream at the Provincial Park. The cost to restore the riprap was estimated at $3,000. The Kitsumkalum River and other tributaries fed large quantities of forest and logging debris into Kitsumkalum Lake. High winds occurred while the lake level was up, resulting in large accumulations of debris being deposited on the north and east shores of the lake. Tributaries to the Kitsumkalum River experienced significant log jamming and stream migration on their alluvial fans. One cabin was destroyed and several bridges washed out. Fish spawning and rearing channels also sustained damage. According to Environment Canada, the debris should be removed and the streams returned to their former courses in order to improve fish migration and spawning areas. The cost of such restoration work in Clear Creek, Goat Creek, Glacier Creek, and Lean-To Creek was estimated by a federal Fisheries Officer at $25,000. Clear Creek changed its course about 600 m above the highway due to erosion and log jamming. It resulted in the destruction of a cabin and a road washout. On November 1 the Zymagotitz, locally known as the Zymacord River, hit 18,700 cfs (530 m 3 /s). It normally flows at 573 cfs (16.3 m 3 /s) in November. On November 2, the Skeena River had swollen to 150,000 cfs (4,248 m 3 /s), while its usual November rate is 19,500 cfs (555 m 3 /s) (Scanlon and Taylor 1979). Near Terrace, high water levels in the Skeena River aggravated erosion upstream of a reach previously rip-rapped. A large back eddy was eroding material from the high bank at the old Frank Brothers Dairy Farm (Lot 365). To protect the bank over a reach of about 300 m, extending upstream from the existing riprap protecting the CNR track, an estimated $110,000 would be required. The Zymagotitz (Zymacord) River flooded the service roads to New Remo up to 1 m in depth. About 30 residences sustained damage and residents were evacuated. A large logjam developed on a sharp bed above the developed area. In Dutch Valley, north of Terrace, shallow flooding occurred due to overbank flows from the Kitsumkalum River on November 1 and 2. Flooding also occurred from Spring Creek due to backwater from the river. Erosion and landsliding of a high bank upstream of the valley took place. The Zymoetz (Copper) River recorded a maximum instantaneous flow of 111,000 cfs (3,143 m 3 /s) late on November 1. Extensive erosion damage occurred to an existing training dyke maintained by the Ministry of Highways. Further upstream where the Zymoetz valley widens into the Skeena floodplain, a private airstrip and farmland suffered erosion damage, overbank flooding, and debris deposition. Major washouts occurred on the Copper River Forest Road situated along the Zymoetz River. 131
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Flooding and Landslide Events North
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1 Introduction Weather is one of th
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Precipitation: Port Simpson (198.4
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In interviews conducted in 1985, Mo
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1989), which is about one third of
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On December 9, Prince Rupert report
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The flood indirectly damaged the Un
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channel. This it obtains across the
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Due to the heavy snowstorm in Stewa
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oom on the top floor of the residen
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*1) The highest mark recorded durin
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the Royal Fish Co., moored at the d
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Source: The Daily News, November 13
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River after floodwaters completely
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Around Smithers, several days of mi
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Exceptionally heavy rains and wind
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saved were the canned goods. Some f
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Flood damage also occurred in the B
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Muddy Gulch and the terminal, the B
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ewildered with the speed with which
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second pier and the span on the Haz
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Source: The Interior News, March 8,
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Ministry of Transportation and High
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January 15-19, 1947 Event type: Sno
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Precipitation: Not applicable. Sour
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ft. (0.6-1.2 m). At Mile 62.5, wash
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force. The storm with winds of 50-6
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Source: The Interior News, December
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December 8-10, 1951 Event type: Rai
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Source: The Omineca Herald, August
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October 11-16, 1954 Event type: Deb
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October 5-14, 1955 Event type: Rock
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Around 5 p.m. on October 14, a rock
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CNR reported rock and snowslides at
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was a contorted track over which a
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The avalanche, which came down 500
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levels. Forty feet (12 m) of riverb
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Precipitation: Falls River (131.8 m
Page 79 and 80: concentrated on the Bear River Pass
Page 81 and 82: On February 5, three men narrowly e
Page 83 and 84: October 15-17, 1962 Event type: Flo
Page 85 and 86: Precipitation: Not applicable. Sour
Page 87 and 88: Trailer Court were endangered. On J
Page 89 and 90: Sweetin River crosses the forestry
Page 91 and 92: During the spring, high water cause
Page 93 and 94: Kitimat reported 10.7 in. (271.8 mm
Page 95 and 96: On January 23, the Bella Coola Rive
Page 97 and 98: (143.0 mm/2 days), October 22-23, 1
Page 99 and 100: This third recorded jökulhlaup eve
Page 101 and 102: eported snowslides at Mile 14.3, 22
Page 103 and 104: Smithers Landing Road to Babine Lak
Page 105 and 106: The slide took place in a small bay
Page 107 and 108: Source: Gilbert 1972. On August 1,
Page 109 and 110: long, which occurred 44 mi. (70.4 k
Page 111 and 112: the slide area. Both drivers walked
Page 113 and 114: September 14-15, 1972 Event type: D
Page 115 and 116: Power outages occurred in Prince Ru
Page 117 and 118: The coroner’s inquiry found that
Page 119 and 120: Construction of a new tramline and
Page 121 and 122: idge construction project near Terr
Page 123 and 124: *2) Addendum 1 of TFL #1 provided f
Page 125 and 126: federal tidal surveyor Bob Brown, h
Page 127 and 128: hat as a scoop, he managed to reach
Page 129: According to the report, it is prob
Page 133 and 134: Highway 37 between Kitwanga-Cranber
Page 135 and 136: A special camp was rented, fitted,
Page 137 and 138: maximum discharge rate of 1,200 m 3
Page 139 and 140: Precipitation: Nass Camp (38.6 mm/1
Page 141 and 142: Prince Rupert was without power for
Page 143 and 144: Between July 31-August 2, Dawson Cr
Page 145 and 146: 1984; Kemano (98.0 mm/2 days), Nove
Page 147 and 148: Precipitation: Sewell Inlet (121.0
Page 149 and 150: speculation and evidence to suggest
Page 151 and 152: log home, which was undamaged but t
Page 153 and 154: At Commotion Creek, significant dam
Page 155 and 156: In July, heavy rainfall caused wide
Page 157 and 158: side of the Bulkley River. Near Tel
Page 159 and 160: efore impacting the embankment. It
Page 161 and 162: The heavy rains caused two slides o
Page 163 and 164: The cost for bank protection of Sto
Page 165 and 166: 1991). According to John Newhouse,
Page 167 and 168: On October 15, the Kispiox River ne
Page 169 and 170: 1992 Event type: Slope failure. Pre
Page 171 and 172: For a time, the highway between Ter
Page 173 and 174: Early June 1993 Event type: Spring
Page 175 and 176: Source: Northern Sentinel, May 25,
Page 177 and 178: May 14, 1995 Event type: Spring run
Page 179 and 180: During mid-February, heavy rains on
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powerlines and causing cancelled ai
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Early March, a logjam and a series
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On May 18, the Fraser River caused
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Source: Schwab 1999. On the morning
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*2) Slope gradient and distance est
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million m 3 . About 30% of the tota
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ased RCMP helicopter was standing b
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----------------------- *1) Dating
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Chimdemash Creek: October 29-Novemb
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Kingcome River: October 16-21, 1965
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Salmon Creek: November 26-December
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October 16-20, 1964; October 21-24,
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21, 1952; October 25-27, 1953; May
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March 25, 1989 A piece of falling i
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Clague, J.J. and W.H. Mathews. 1992
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Lebuis, J..J., Robert, M. and P. Ri
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Tempest, W. 1974. Bella Coola River
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