HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

and Highway 29 South to Tumbler Ridge. The road closures affected hundreds of southbound vehicles. A number of
stranded motorists were evacuated by helicopter from isolated areas.
On the morning of August 1, just before the lakeside road washed out, the Moberly Lake provincial campground at
was evacuated. When flooding rivers caused Moberly Lake to rise rapidly, 50 people were evacuated from Camp Sagatawa
and five camping units. Waves up to 3 ft. (90 cm) high were forced over its shore. Five people were evacuated by boat from
the south side of the lake. Camp Sagatawa was inundated by a 3-ft. (90 cm) stream, which became 30 ft. (9 m) wide. Near
Camp Sagatawa, Highway 97 was threatened. Near Sagatawa, an 8-ft. (2.4 m) culvert at Medicine Woman Creek became
plugged. Near Moberly, Le Bleu Creek washed out the approach to the bridge by Ken’s Place.
The gravel road between Highway 29 and the park washed out in four places, including the Martin Creek
bridge, and was not expected to be repaired within two or three weeks. After both approaches to the Martin Creek bridge
washed out, about 20 Sukunka River campers were cut off from Highway 29. On August 2, 19 people were evacuated by
helicopter: 14 campers staying at the Sukunka Falls Provincial Park and five hikers at Kinuseo Falls. A local resident rescued
a two-year old child from a camper hung up on the edge of a collapsed bridge.
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*1) According to Mayor Charlie Lasser, an increase in the number of settling ponds along the creek which passes through
Chetwynd would remedy the problem of accumulated gravel during the flood (Chetwynd Echo, August 11, 1987).
*2) The provincial government approved $6 million in assistance for victims of the July flooding in Chetwynd, Dawson
Creek, Fort St. John, Fort Nelson and Tumbler Ridge. The money was to compensate residents and businesses and cover
repair to roads, bridges and creeks (The Vancouver Sun, September 14, 1987). On September 10, 1988, Order in Council
1797 was approved in response to the extensive damage that occurred in the northeast of British Columbia, ordered
relief to an amount not to exceed $6 million under the Flood Relief Act.
September 17-21, 1987
Event type: Rain-on-snow flooding.
Precipitation: Hartley Bay (294.6 mm/2 days), September 19-20, 1987; Kemano (165.0 mm/2 days), September 19-20,
1987; Kildala (195.7 mm/2 days), September 19-20, 1987; Langara (105.4 mm/3 days), September 17-19, 1987; Bella
Coola (52.2 mm/1 day), September 19, 1987; Kitimat Townsite (201.1 mm/2 days), September 19-20, 1987; Kitimat 2
(225.8 mm/2 days), September 19-20, 1987; Prince Rupert M. Circ (170.2 mm/3 days), September 19-21, 1987; Prince
Rupert (142.0 mm/3 days), September 19-21, 1987; Terrace (162.6 mm/3 days), September 19-21, 1987; Falls River
(203.0 mm/3 days), September 19-21, 1987; Nass Camp (59.4 mm/1 day), September 20, 1987; Terrace (100.4 mm/1
day), September 20, 1987.
Source: The Daily News, September 21, 1987; Northern Sentinel, September 24, 1987; Terrace Review, September 23,
1987; The Interior News, September 30, 1987; Environment Canada 1991; Brent Smith, pers. comm. Skeena Cellulose,
Terrace.
On September 20, Terrace recorded 100.4 mm of rain in 24 hours. The heavy rain caused snowmelt at
higher elevations. Highway 16 between Prince Rupert-Terrace had water pooling along the railroad track for a
distance of 8 km. Highway 16 between Terrace-Hazelton was closed by a washout at Whiskey Creek, 14 km west of
the Kitwanga junction. The site of the washout had 3 ft. (90 cm) of water on the road. Heavy rains caused gravel and
debris to plug the culvert. The creek bed rose 16-20 ft. (4.8-6 m) when thousands of yards of debris were deposited,
forcing the highway to flood. Some $50,000 was spent to clear the culvert. The highway reopened late on September
21. Minor problems were also reported from other locations. Flooding at Williams Creek closed highway 37 between
Terrace-Kitimat. *1) The traffic was rerouted via the old Lakelse Road. The rail line between Terrace-Kitimat was out
of service for three to four weeks.
On September 21, the Kitimat River below Hirsch Creek recorded a maximum instantaneous discharge of
2,170 m 3 /s and a maximum daily discharge of 1,530 m 3 /s (Environment Canada 1991). The Kitimat River changed its
course and damaged the foundations of the Kitimat River bridge.
Skeena Cellulose reported about $60,000 damage to its logging roads. Major washouts occurred between
Kilometres 45-47 on the road between the Clore-Kitnayakwa. Replacement of culverts on the Kleanza road cost some
$20,000 (B. Smith, pers. comm.).
The PNG pipeline between Kitimat/Terrace-Prince Rupert was cut by severe erosion in the Copper River
Valley.
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*1) The highway between Terrace-Kitimat was originally known as Highway 25. It was later renumbered Highway 37
to link Kitimat up with the existing Highway 37 between Kitwanga and the Yukon border. Thus, Kitimat was made
the southern point of this north-south highway link.
July 1988
Event type: Debris slides.
Precipitation: Not available.
Source: Coates 1992 (p. 257); Evans and Clague 1989; Trenhaile1998..
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