HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

(143.0 mm/2 days), October 22-23, 1966; Aiyansh (100.0 mm/2 days), October 22-23, 1966; Smithers (37.8 mm/1
day), October 23, 1966; Smithers A (64.2 mm/2 days), October 23-24, 1966; Kemano (68.1 mm/1 day), October 24,
1966.
Source: Northern Sentinel, October 27, 1966; The Daily News, October 24, 25 and 26, 1966; The Interior News,
October 26, 1966; The Sun, October 24, 1966; Letter, J.P. O'Toole (Dist. Supt. Terrace) to P.J. Carr (Reg. Maint. Eng.
Prince George). B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Highways, Terrace File M 54-653-0, Flood damage Skeena East.
B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Highways, Terrace; Environment Canada 1991; Meziadin Environmental
Advisory Team 1975 (Vol. 3, Fig. 4-9); B.C. Ministry of Public Works 1968 (p. C 105); Ministry of Transportation
and Highways. Granite Creek Flooding. Lakelse Lake Area. B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Highways, Terrace;
Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Ltd. 1987.
Between October 22-23, Prince Rupert reported over 3 in. (76.2 mm) of rain. The Digby Island Marine
Aeradio station recorded 2.70 in. (68.9 mm) on October 21 and 0.86 in. (21.9 mm) on October 22. On October 23, as a
result of moisture in the cables the telephone service went out of service in Prince Rupert. The main problem was in
cable No. 3 located towards the east end. On October 24, some 700 customers were still without service. About 400
telephones were still out of order on October 26. A few cellars were reported flooded. CHTK-TV experienced
reception trouble because of ice building up on its 4,300-ft. (1,290 m) elevation Copper Mountain antenna.
At the Seco Electric construction site at Telegraph Point, two D-8 Cats and steel for the BC Hydro power
towers were completely submerged. Water flowed over the Columbia Cellulose dam onto Highway 16.
Between October 22-23, Kitimat recorded about 6 in. (152.4 mm) of rain. On October 22, the Kitimat River
below Hirsch Creek recorded a maximum instantaneous discharge of 1,680 m 3 /s and a maximum daily discharge of
1,100 m 3 /s (Environment Canada 1991). It flooded the Service Centre, doing considerable damage to 12 businesses.
According to George More, manager of the Gordon Hotel, the hotel and many of the businesses were flooded with 4 in.
(10 cm) of water. Crown-Zellerbach Canada Ltd. suspended logging because of flooding of 2,000 ac. (800 ha) of its
timber rights. Some basements in Kitimat were flooded. A secondary road into Kitamaat Village was damaged.
Flooding due to heavy rains occurred on October 22, causing considerable damage to the Kitimat Highway
(B.C. Ministry of Public Works 1968). On Highway 25 at Williams Creek, 150 ft. (45 m) of pavement washed out.
The bridge approaches of southern Williams Creek and Hatry (Hatchery) Creek were damaged. The wooden bridge
over South Granite Creek on 1st Avenue partially washed away. The Highway Department removed this bridge and
also the one over North Granite Creek. Both were replaced with two 6-ft. (1.8 m) diameter corrugated iron culverts.
Instead of rock, gravel fill was used at both sites to bring up the road level. These culverts were able to handle medium
creek flow, but in high flow both culverts washed out. Gravel fill, washed down with the flood, built up the creek bed,
causing it to overflow much more than previously. During low water in the fall, the Highway Department bulldozed
out most of the gravel and accumulated debris in the lower reaches of South and North Granite creeks. The high water
flow in Granite Creek during this flood period also washed out 30 ft. (9 m) of the east lane of Highway 25 immediately
south of Granite Creek bridge. A half-mile (800 m) stretch of highway was under 2 ft. (60 cm) of water. At Glacier
Creek, erosion occurred around the culvert. Several roads in Terrace and Kitimat flooded.
Highway 16 between Terrace-Hazelton was closed. Extensive erosion occurred at the side hill fill west of
Kitsequecla. Culvert sections were undermined and carried downslope. Further west of Kitsequecla, tension cracks
developed on the shoulder of the highway, causing bank erosion. The Hells Bells bridge, 38 mi. (60.8 km) east of
Terrace had its approach washed out. Erosion of the piling support caused the entire structure to collapse and be swept
away. It was replaced temporarily by an 80-ft. (24 m) Bailey bridge. Repair cost of the flood damage in the Rosswood
area, at the north end of Kalum Lake, was $5,000.
On October 24, 4.18 in. (106.2 mm) of rain fell overnight in Ocean Falls. Currents from the six open dam
gates, combined with gusts of wind, swung the Northland Prince, attempting to leave the harbour, over to the paper
dock. On Twin Lakes Road, a 50-ft. (15 m) wide slide occurred. A tree uprooted by the wind came down on a power
pole between Houses 1020-1022.
Heavy flooding occurred in the Smithers area. Nearly 2.5 in. (63.5 mm) of rain fell in 24 hours. Trout
Creek, west of Smithers, had its cross bracing and pile bent damaged. The approach scoured out, and the east
abutment of the new bridge fell into the stream channel. The approaches to the new bridge were also partially swept
away. The old Highroad to Moricetown was used as a detour. On October 24, telephone service west of Trout Creek
was temporarily cut off. Extensive bank erosion occurred adjacent to the Trout Creek store. At Toboggan Creek,
debris at the culvert inlet caused a deep scour hole under the culvert discharge. In Telkwa, the Bulkley River flooded
its banks alongside River Road. The Telkwa River crested well above the previous spring’s flood stage. On the
Kispiox River Road, two bridges were reported washed out.
Peak flows occurred on October 24. The Zymoetz River at OK Creek recorded a mean daily discharge of
44,000 cfs (1,245 m 3 /s), and an instantaneous discharge of 68,500 cfs (1,940 m 3 /s). The Little Wedeene River
recorded an instantaneous discharge of 6,120 cfs (173 m 3 /s). The Kitsequecla River near Skeena Crossing recorded a
mean daily discharge of 8,100 cfs (230 m 3 /s) and an instantaneous discharge of 21,300 cfs (603 m 3 /s) (Meziadin
Environmental Advisory Team 1975).
November 12, 1966
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