HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

*1) The highest mark recorded during the spring of 1928 was 16.6 ft. According to water level taken by J. Simonson,
in 1911 the gauge at South Fort George reached a high mark of 18 ft. (Prince George Citizen, May 31, 1928).
November 27-28, 1929
Event type: Rockslide.
Precipitation: Aiyansh (61.2 mm/1 day), November 27, 1929; Prince Rupert (113.8 mm/2 days), November 27-28,
1929.
Source: Evening Empire, November 28, 29 and 30, December 2 and 3, 1929; The Interior News, December 4 and 11,
1929; The Omineca Herald, November 27, December 4, 1929.
Hazelton reported the “heaviest rain in [the] district for several years.” On November 28, the heavy wind
and a rockslide in the Bulkley Canyon delayed the train traffic. The big rockslide at the second tunnel east of New
Hazelton was described as “one of the biggest this part of the line for years.” The passengers, mail, and express were
transferred over the slide. Combined with a train collision at Jasper, the train traffic was interrupted for a week. The
150-ft. (50 m) long and 25-ft. (7.5 m) deep slide was cleared on December 3, and traffic resumed.
June 8-10, 1930
Event type: Flooding.
Precipitation: Masset (20.3 mm/1 day), June 8, 1930; Swanson Bay (141.5 mm/2 days), June 8-9, 1930; Terrace (31.0
mm/2 days), June 8-9, 1930; Prince Rupert (55.7 mm/3 days), June 8-10, 1930.
Source: The Daily News, June 10 and 11, 1930; Evening Empire, June 10 and 11, 1930.
The heavy rains on June 10 caused slides between Haysport-Terrace. The telegraphic communications were
interrupted between June 10-11.
The construction work at the Power Corporation of Canada dam at Falls River was delayed. High
floodwaters of the Falls River during the previous days washed over the cofferdams that were being used in the
construction. After pumping these out, the pouring of the concrete could be resumed.
May 4, 1931
Event type: Spring runoff flooding.
Precipitation: Not applicable.
Source: The Interior News, April 29, May 6, 1931; Evening Empire, May 5, 1931; Environment Canada 1991; Letter,
May 4, 1931, V.A. Sahlstrom (Secretary Walcott Conservative Assn.) to R. Reid (Supt. of Roads, Burns Lake)
Provincial Archives, Victoria.
Smithers reported a week of warm weather at the end of April. On May 4, the Bulkley River near Houston
recorded a maximum daily discharge of 53.8 m 3 /s (Environment Canada 1991). In Walcott, a small settlement
between Telkwa-Houston, children residing on the west side of the Bulkley River were unable to attend school due to
the flooded condition of the river. *1)
The Skeena highway west of Hazelton was in very dangerous condition due to large rock and mudslides near
Kitwanga. Travelers were advised not to go much beyond Skeena Crossing.
Early on May 4, eastbound train No. 6 hit a rockslide about 1 mi. (1.6 km) east of Amsbury. The locomotive
and three fishcars derailed. The engineer and the fireman jumped to safety. The passenger coaches did not derail.
One trespasser riding on a fishcar was killed.
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*1) The ferry at Walcott had been condemned as unsafe for public use. In 1932, it was replaced by the present
suspension bridge. This structure was originally built in 1913 as a vehicular bridge across the canyon at Hagwilget
near Hazelton.
June 17-19, 1931
Event type: Spring runoff flooding.
Precipitation: Not applicable.
Source: The Omineca Herald, June 10 and 24, 1931; The Terrace News, June 24, 1931; Evening Empire, June 19, 20
and 22, 1931; The Interior News, June 24, 1931; Environment Canada 1991.
As a result of warm weather, the Skeena and Bulkley rivers rose several feet during the first week of June.
May and early June were very dry in the Hazelton area. During May, less than an inch (25.4 mm) of rain fell and there
was no precipitation until June 10. In the middle of June, continuing hot weather and some very heavy rains brought
the Skeena and Bulkley rivers up to record levels. On June 19, the Skeena River at Usk recorded a maximum discharge
of 4,730 m 3 /s (Environment Canada 1991). According to an old timer, the Skeena was the “highest in 40 years.” It
was described as being “the highest in the memory of the oldest white residents.”
Serious flood conditions occurred in the Hazelton area near the 4th Cabin on the Telegraph line. North of
Hazelton, wide areas were reported under 4 ft. (1.2 m) of water. The Government Yukon Telegraph line suffered some
damage from washouts along the river. On the lower Skeena the water rose to the highest levels in 15 years. In the
low-lying area of Usk the business and residential section was flooded.
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