HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

Kitimat reported 10.7 in. (271.8 mm) of rain in seven days. The Kitimat River reached its highest level since
1958. On October 22, the Kitimat River recorded a maximum instantaneous discharge of 1,680 m 3 /s and an estimated
maximum daily discharge of 1,100 m 3 /s (Environment Canada 1991). It overflowed its banks north of the bridge and
swept through Radley Park, carrying off picnic tables. It also took out some sections of the sewer line further
downstream. There were three washouts on the Kitamaat Village Road and a washout 8 mi. (12.8 km) north of Kitimat
on Highway 25. The Crown Zellerbach logging roads had five washouts. The biggest was 16 mi. (25.6 km) north of
town on the highway. A burst culvert spilling over on the adjacent logging road caused it.
Early on October 22, a 25-ft. (7.5 m) wide washout occurred on Highway 16, 3 mi. (4.8 km) east of
Galloway Rapids bridge. On Highway 16, west of Terrace Hells Bells Bridge washed out (B.C. Ministry of Public
Works 1967).
CNR reported five washouts near Mile 28.4. They were 10-12 ft. (3-3.6 m) wide and 2-3 ft. (60-90 cm)
deep. The rail line was closed for 10 hours (J. Mekechuck, pers. comm.).
On October 21, a heavy rainstorm caused extensive damage and flooding in the Bella Coola Valley. On
October 22, the Bella Coola River above Burnt Creek recorded a maximum daily discharge of 638 m 3 /s and a
maximum instantaneous discharge of 776 m 3 /s. On the same day, the Bella Coola River near Hagensborg recorded a
maximum daily discharge of 906 m 3 /s (Environment Canada 1991). The 1965 flood produced a major northward shift
in the river (Church 1983). After a week of extreme rains, seven bridges and a section of road were washed out east of
Bella Coola, isolating and flooding many communities. On October 22, the Kingcome River, swollen by torrential
rains, flooded houses along the riverbank.
On October 21, high waters of the Parsnip River caused logs and debris to lodge against the PGE bridge
across the Parsnip River. On October 22, the bridge 90 mi. (144 km) north of Prince George collapsed. A crane ordered
one day prior to the collapse arrived too late to save the bridge. *1) Ray Dawson, PGE Prince George manager, said it
would take about 10 days to restore the line.
--------------------------
*1) Erwin Hoppe, local chairman of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, Lodge 845, claimed the collapse could
have been prevented if the PGE had taken precautionary measures. (The Citizen, October 27, 1965).
October 23-26, 1965
Event type: Flooding.
Precipitation: Not available.
Source: The Province, October 26, 1965; The Vancouver Sun, October 26, 1965.
Heavy rain on October 23-24 caused cuts in the PGE rail line and several highways in northern British Columbia.
On October 26, heavy rain cut the railroad bridge across the Parsnip River, 90 mi. (144 km) north of Prince
George. Rail traffic on the PGE line between Prince George and the Peace River district was interrupted. Freight to and from
Dawson Creek and Fort St. John was carried by truck.
November 27-29, 1965
Event type: Flooding.
Precipitation: Prince Rupert M. Circ (131.5 mm/3 days), November 27-29, 1965; Falls River (156.4 mm/2 days),
November 28-29, 1965; Tasu Sound (311.4 mm/3 days), November 27-29, 1965; Sandspit A (29.7 mm/1 day),
November 29, 1965.
Source: J. Mekechuck, pers. comm. 1989. CN Railway, Edmonton.
On November 29, CNR reported three washouts at Mile 42.0, 42.1 and 45.4 and a small rockslide at Kaien.
December 1-2, 1965
Event type: Glacial outburst flood.
Precipitation: Not applicable.
Source: The Province, November 30; December 1 and 2, 1965; The Vancouver Sun, April 9, 1966; Mathews 1973 (pp.
99-110).
Around November 30, an observer reported a tunnel entrance at the southwest corner of the lake through
which the water apparently escaped, dropping quickly from 2,700 ft. (810 m) elevation to sea level and sweeping
icebergs with it. Granduc general superintendent H.H. Waller stated that since early November the lake level had
gradually dropped by a total of 55 ft. (16.5 m). However, with the total depth of the lake estimated at 180 ft. (54 m) it
meant there was still a considerable amount of water left around November 30.
On December 1-2, heavy flood damage occurred near Stewart when Summit Lake discharged underneath the
Salmon Glacier. Like in December 1961, a passage opened through the glacier. This second recorded jökulhlaup under
Salmon Glacier near Stewart was first recognised on November 14 after the overflow from Summit Lake ceased. The
lake had drained northward into the upper Bowser River for a 27-month period (about August 20, 1963 to November
14, 1965).
As the overflow was to be used for domestic purposes and milling of ore, Granduc Operating Company kept
a weekly discharge record of the surface outlet during the summer and fall of 1965. Observations of the lake level
93