HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

side of the Bulkley River. Near Telkwa, Goathorn Creek had most of its approach washed away. Approximately 400
ft. (120 m) of Coalmine Road near the beginning of the logging road washed away.
The extensive bedload movement in the Kitimat, Copper, and Zymacord rivers caused heavy damage to the
salmon spawning grounds. The flood impact on the salmon reproduction had yet to be determined.
On September 29, the Bella Coola River above Burnt Bridge Creek recorded a maximum instantaneous
discharge of 681 m 3 /s and a maximum daily discharge of 526 m 3 /s. On the same day, the Salloompt River near
Hagensborg recorded similar readings of 170 m 3 /s and 78.1 m 3 /s, respectively (Environment Canada 1991). Near
Bella Coola, a portion of the main road into Salloompt was closed by flooding, stranding residents on one side. The
schools shut down and some families in the Salloompt area were evacuated. High water threatened one residence,
formerly Ounpuu’s Lean-To cafe. *2)
The northwest B.C. flooding covered the following watercourses: in Bella Coola area: Nusatsum River;
Thorsen Creek; in the Kitimat-Terrace area: Granite Creek; Shames River; and in the Smithers area: Haddow Creek;
McKinnon Creek; Simpson Creek, Biggs Creek; Telkwa River; Glacier Gulch Creek; Furlong Creek; and the Mount
Layton Hot Springs Waddy Project for a total program expenditure of $160,460.99 (shareable) and $121,791.06 (Nonshareable).
The initial report by the Ministry of Environment included:
Bella Coola area: Nusatsum River tributary upstream of highway: loss of riprap: $2,000; Nusatsum River at
Douglas Road North: apparent loss of 50 m of berm and riprap: $34,000; and Thorsen Creek: gravel removal and
repairs to separation berm downstream of highway bridge: $10,000. The damage to riprap adjacent to the highway
between Firvale-Burnt Bridge ($37,000) was not included, nor were extensions totaling $120,000. The impending
problem area on right bank of Bella Coola upstream of Salloompt River was estimated to cost in excess of $140,000
for riprap and dyke not justifiable under PEP.
Kitimat-Terrace: Site 4, Granite Creek-Lakelse Lake area: work on eight locations mainly replacing riprap,
and downstream of 1 st Ave. bridge excavation of flood-deposited gravel for a total cost of $203,000; Site 5, Shames
River: $25,000. Flooding at New Remo left the Zymacord River much closer to the training berm. Williams Creek and
adjacent creeks flooded but there was no readily apparent damage to structures or private property. Hirsh Creek
flooded and damaged gabion basket bank protection within the District of Kitimat park area.
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*1) On October 20, 1988, Order-in-Council 1957 was approved in response to the extensive damage that occurred in
the northern region of British Columbia, ordered relief to an amount not to exceed $3 million under the Flood Relief
Act. The provincial government made $3 million flood aid available for victims of flooding in Terrace, Kitimat,
Hazelton, Smithers, and surrounding areas between September 27-29. Portions of the assistance were to go to the
repair of roads, bridges, and creeks. Small businesses and municipalities were also eligible for assistance. (The
Province, October 21, 1988)
*2) A flood control lobby was formed as a direct result of the flooding. There were major concerns over potential
future flood damage in the Salloompt and Hagensborg areas.
October 20-22, 1988
Event type: Flooding and mudslide.
Precipitation: Nass Camp (52.6 mm/1 day), October 20, 1988; Kildala (59.8 mm/1 day), October 20, 1988; Prince
Rupert M. Circ (105.9 mm/1 day), October 20, 1988; Pallant Creek (157.6 mm/2 days), October 20-21, 1988; Sandspit
A (46.4 mm/2 days), October 20-21, 1988; Hartley Bay (154.4 mm/2 days), October 20-21, 1988; Kemano (73.4 mm/2
days), October 20-21, 1988; Falls River (182.4 mm/3 days), October 20-22, 1988; Prince Rupert M. Circ (174.2 mm/3
days), October 20-22, 1988; Prince Rupert (111.2 mm/3 days), October 20-22, 1988; Kitimat 2 (167.8 mm/3 days),
October 20-22, 1988; Sewell Inlet (44.4 mm/1 day), October 21, 1988; Terrace (59.0 mm/1 day), October 21, 1988.
Source: The Daily News, October 21, 1988; The Terrace Standard, October 26, 1988.
Prince Rupert reported 73.4 mm of rain in 24 hours and winds of 45 km/h with gusts up to 70 km/h. The
Kitimat-Terrace area recorded over 100 mm of rain and winds gusting up to 100 km/h. In Terrace, a small mudslide
occurred at the Skeena View hill. Plugged drains caused minor flooding.
On Highway 16 between Prince Rupert-Terrace, the Skeena River caused flooding conditions between the
Tyee overpass and the Khyex River bridge.
On the Queen Charlotte Islands, the power was interrupted for several hours.
January 23-29, 1989
Event type: Snow (fatal) avalanches.
Precipitation: Kitimat Townsite (149.4 mm/5 days), January 23-27, 1989; Kitimat 2 (298.0 mm/6 days), January 23-28,
1989; Stewart A (179.8 mm/3 days), January 24-26, 1989; Prince Rupert M. Circ (178.8 mm/4 days), January 24-27,
1989; Nass Camp (169.0 mm/4 days), January 24-27, 1989; Pallant Creek (170.1 mm/3 days), January 25-27, 1989;
Kildala (109.5 mm/3 days), January 25-27, 1989; Falls River (152.8 mm/2 days), January 26-27, 1989; Sandspit A
(33.4 mm/1 day), January 28, 1989; Bella Coola (134.8 mm/2 days), January 28-29, 1989.
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