HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

(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.
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