HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

Flood damage also occurred in the Bulkley Valley and the Lakes. The roads sustained only minor damage.
The Pleasant Valley bridge No. 42 west of Houston on the Northern Trans-Provincial Highway (NTPH) had 100 ft. (30
m) of bank protection cribbing washed out, endangering the bridge during the next high water. The Kalhood bridge
No. 463 on the NTPH 3 mi. (4.8 km) east of Topley had its cribs undermined. The Telkwa River bridge No. 101 was
endangered after 250 ft. (75 m) of bank protection cribbing washed out.
The Stewart area experienced high water conditions as a result of heavy rain and a subsequent warm spell.
The heat wave had temperatures of 75 o F (23.9 o C) on May 29, 84 o F (28.9 o C) on May 30, and in the 80s F (26.7 o -
32.2 o C) for several days after that. The Bear River hit record heights, flooding the road from the other side of Muddy
Gulch Hill to Mosquito Creek. The bank on the east end of 2 nd Street got eroded. Logs and debris hanging up on the
railway trestle had to be dynamited for several days. Glacier Creek overflowed its banks, flooding the road this side of
the Dunwell Mill. Operations at the Dunwell and Welldun were temporarily ceased. Mining and milling resumed on
June 9. The American Creek bridge was carried away. Bitter Creek was described as “a boiling mass of mud.” The
Aiyansh district experienced “the worst flood catastrophe the district has ever known.” The water levels exceeded by 8
ft. (2.4 m) anything previously observed. The Nass River started rising on May 29, flooding the northern part of
Greenville. The water reached a depth of 5 ft. (1.5 m) over the sidewalks. The sawmill and five houses got flooded.
More serious damage may have been done at Aiyansh. The Nass River reached a higher level than the previous record
flood of 1917.
Flood damage Aiyansh District: The bank mud sill on Gitzyon Creek bridge washed out letting a corner of
the bridge down 1 ft. (30 cm). Three bridges on Tseax Flats floated up. Two of them were tied back into place. The
third floated approximately 100 ft. (30 m) down the slough. The Slough bridge on the Aiyansh-Cranberry Trail settled
out of place. Two small slides occurred 3 mi. (4.8 km) up the trail. The Cranberry bridge was damaged by drift
striking the bridge. Three of the floor beams were knocked out, the stringers were shoved together and half of its
decking was gone. The river flat trails were covered with debris. The River Flats were covered with a sticky silt layer
0.5 to 3 in. (1.25 to 7.5 cm) thick and all the potatoes were rotted.
Total of flood damages is estimated as follows. Omineca bridges, not including Aveling Coal Road, $2,000;
roads $1,000. Skeena bridges, not including Kitsequecla, $20,000, roads $3,000; ferries, several thousand dollars and
two ferryman’s houses gone. Prince Rupert, no damage. Atlin bridges, $4,000, roads $3,000, not including the Dolly
Varden Railway.
The Stikine River reached unprecedented high water levels. The riverboat Hazel B No. 2, belonging to the
Barrington Transportation Co., arrived at Wrangell, Alaska, eight days overdue, because of the high water conditions
on the Stikine River. It was slightly damaged bumping a canyon wall several times while coming down the river.
Capt. Sid Barrington reported the “highest floodwaters in his 20 years’ experience on the Stikine River.” He also
reported to have seen many cabins of prospectors, trappers, and homesteaders that were swept away. Telegraph Creek
was reported to have suffered heavy losses. All roads and bridges to Dease Lake washed out. The Stikine River swept
away scores of riverbank warehouses and Indian smokehouses. The water was flowing 7 ft. (2.1 m) deep through the
Hudson’s Bay warehouse at Telegraph Creek. The home of “Groundhog” Jackson at Grand Rapids was swept away,
but the family escaped to a high bench. The wingdam at Barrington was also swept away.
The Taku and Tulsequah rivers flooded. The road into the “White Water-Taku Mines” White Water property
washed out. The considerable damage done by the floodwaters caused problems getting supplies in.
According to government meteorologist Robert Carter, the Fraser River at Prince George crested at 21.8 ft.
on June 3 at 8 p.m. The South Fort George gauge, which was set to a higher zero reading, peaked at 18. 3 ft. (Prince
George Citizen, May 18, 1939).
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*1) In an unprecedented move, the three ferrymen at Remo, Hazelton, and Kitwanga were reimbursed for their
personal losses. W.H. Cotton, the Assistant District Engineer in Smithers, noted, “These men had a very severe time
during the flood and all did wonderful work, as evidenced by the fact that all ferries were saved....”
*2) In 1939, the bridge was limited to a gross load of 5 short tons and a speed of 15 mph.
October 4-6, 1936
Event type: Flooding.
Precipitation: Stewart (112.3 mm/2 days), October 4-5, 1936; Aiyansh (46.7 mm/1 day), October 5, 1936; Falls River
(81.3 mm/1 day), October 6, 1936.
Source: The Stewart News and Northern B.C. Miner, October 16, 1936.
Near Stewart, nearly 4 in. (101.6 mm) of rain in 24 hours increased water pressure, completely demolishing
the cofferdam at Long Lake. Management of the Big Missouri mine put on crews to rebuild the dam and the bridge at
Silver Lake.
November 9-19, 1936
Event type: Rain-on snow flooding.
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