HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

According to Alcan data, early February, the Kitimat River peaked at 48,000 cfs (1,329 m 3 /s). This puts it as
the highest peak at that time of the year on the Kitimat River. It would rank it as the ninth highest flow during the
period of WSC stream gauge data (1964-1993). The Alcan chart also recorded for February 5, 1954 a rainfall of 13.39
in. (345.2 mm) in a week. This would probably have been recorded at the Alcan Works AES Station named Kitimat.
This station operated from 1951 till 1966 and was renamed Kitimat 2 in 1966 (Karanka, pers. comm.).
The Smithers area reported spring-like weather with temperatures in the high 40s o F (9 o C) to 54 o F (12.2 o
C) (unofficially) since January 30.
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*1) A monthly mean flow of the Zymoetz River in February, 1954, at 103 m 3 /s exceeds the next highest January or
February mean monthly flow by nearly 40 m 3 /s through 40 years of record (Karanka, pers. comm.).
May 15-22, 1954
Event type: Spring runoff flooding.
Precipitation: Not applicable.
Source: Alaska Highway News, May 20, 1954; Prince George Citizen, May 17 and 20, 1954; The Sun, May 20, 1954.
On May 15 at 3:30 a.m., a washout 3 mi. (4.8 km) east of Isle Pierre, 29 mi. (46.4 km) west of Prince George,
wrecked a westbound CNR passenger train. A sudden freshet caused a dam near a small lake 0.5 mi. (800 m) upstream broke
and undermined the east approach of the 36-in. (90 cm) culvert. A locomotive and two baggage cars of the11-car passenger
train dropped into a deep hole left by a washed-out culvert. The engine, which buckled as it plunged through the weakened
culvert, sending water against the culvert approaches was a total loss. A CNR fireman who was crushed and burned when
pinned under a locomotive later died.
Old-timers of the Isle Pierre district where the accident happened believed the accident was caused when a beaver
dam broke in a small lake, sending a wall of water cascading under the right-of-way.
On May 19, the Fraser River at Prince George recorded a reading of 23.21 ft. and 24.92 the next day (compared to
26.36 in 1948).
Heavy runoff caused a partial washout at Mile 589 on the Alaska Highway, necessitating temporary one-way
traffic. At Mile 38 on the Beatton River access road, two culverts washed out and had to be replaced.
June 10, 1954
Event type: Spring runoff flooding.
Precipitation: Not applicable.
Source: Terrace Omineca Herald, June 10 and 17, August 19, 1954; Environment Canada 1991.
High waters in the Skeena River caused severe bank erosion just west of Terrace. The river changed its
course to the north bank upstream from the Frank Brothers dairy farm. *1) As a result, Ivan and Floyd Frank lost 5 ac.
(2 ha) of their farmland. The riprap wall was swept away and chunks of land disappeared at over 1 ft. (30 cm) an hour.
The CNR mainline west of the farm was almost put out of commission. In a combined effort between the Department
of Public Works, the railway, and Columbia Construction Company, the riverbanks were reinforced. Three trains a
day hauled rock on flat cars from Pacific. Rock was also hauled around the clock by a dozen trucks from the Public
Works, cut at Copper River. Despite these efforts, the river washed out 350 ft. (105 m) of farmland and 15 ft. (4.5 m)
of railway. The road to Little’s Island washed out. The highway between Prince Rupert-Terrace was flooded in
several places.
At high tide in the evening of June 9, 2 ft. (60 cm) of water and driftwood covered the highway around East
Kwinitsa. As a precautionary measure, the Department of Public Works stationed a patrol car on the highway west of
Terrace. On June 10, the Skeena River at Usk recorded a maximum instantaneous discharge of 5,970 m 3 /s and a
maximum daily discharge of 5,920 m 3 /s (Environment Canada 1991).
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*1) During the early 1900s when the Frank’s farm was established, the river’s main channel was on the south side.
Floodwaters threatened the farm in 1936 and 1948. Between 1951-1954, the river appears to have been changing
course. The Frank Brothers estimated having lost about 25 ac. (10 ha) of land since 1936 (Terrace Omineca Herald).
September 21-25, 1954
Event type: Flooding.
Precipitation: Ocean Falls (268.7 mm/4 days), September 21-24, 1954; Kitimat (125.2 mm/2 days), September 23-24,
1954; Kitimat Townsite (102.6 mm/2 days), September 23-24, 1954; Aiyansh (50.0 mm/2 days), September 23-24,
1954; Falls River (166.1 mm/3 days), September 23-25, 1954.
Source: Kitimat Northern Sentinel, September 30, 1954.
According to Alcan records, 7.74 in. (196.6 mm) of rain fell in the Kitimat area during the period September
21-26. On September 23 alone, 2.74 in. (69.6 mm) was recorded. The Kitimat River rose approximately 8 ft. (2.4 m) at
its peak. Basements of the Johnson-Crooks houses (Nechako) area under construction were flooded as a result of the
unfinished nature of the grade. The pouring of the concrete for the water intake was delayed. The Anderson Creek
water intake, now serving the smelter, was blocked by debris.
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