Mayor and council Q&A part two: this week we ask them about the city’s finances — page 4
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Weds., October 22, 2014 www.revelstoketimesreview.com Vol. 117, No. 43
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TIMESReview
Jr. Last Spike - 19
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Carrot patch kids
From left: Harlan, Spencer, Kael, Felix, Layla and Emma were at the community garden on Saturday to take part in the NCES’ Little Sprouts Harvest Party. They helped dig up carrots from the garden, then cleaned them and bunched them together for sale to passers-by. It was $2 a bunch. Alex Cooper/Revelstoke Times Review
Water surge on Illecillewaet River causes concerns Alex Cooper
editor@revelstoketimesreview.com
City and provincial officials are investigating the impact of a massive water surge down the Illecillewaet River last week. The river surged late on Tuesday, Oct. 14, when a glacial lake outburst sent a large volume of water into Woolsey Creek, which flows into the river near the eastern boundary of Mount Revelstoke National Park. The event caused water flows to increase almost six-
fold in the span of less than two hours. According to hydrometric data collected by Environment Canada, flows went from 34 cubicmetres per second at 7:45 p.m. all the way to 185 cubic-metres per second at 9:20 p.m. Flows didn’t return to normal until late the following morning. The surge wreaked havoc on the river, sending trees and other debris downstream. The water level in town rose by about 60 centimetres. Piles of wood can be seen scattered along the Illecillewaet River by the
Greenbelt trails. Elsewhere, a big log jam formed at the junction of Woolsey Creek and the Illecillewaet River and there is also a log jam at the mouth of the Illecillewaet box canyon, just east of town. Much of the debris is expected to be flushed out of the river during the spring freshet but there are still concerns. Mike Thomas, the city’s director of engineer, said in an e-mail he spent most of Wednesday looking for the cause and impact of the surge. He forwarded portions of an
e-mail from Jeff Ferguson, a local official with the Ministry of Transportation. “The debris flood in the Illecillewaet River yesterday was most likely the result of a glacier lake outburst flood originating from an unnamed glacier at the head of Clabon Creek (a tributary of Woolsey Creek),” wrote Ferguson. “It resulted in a surge of water that brought coarse woody debris and sediment into the Woolsey Creek and ultimately the Illecillewaet River.”
Thomas said Emergency Management BC, the Ministry of the Environment, CP Rail, Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure and Parks Canada were notified. Rob Girard, the city’s emergency coordinator was also informed. Initial investigation shows the city’s Greely Creek water source was not impacted. The water main to Arrow Heights, which runs under the Illecillewaet and was recently exposed, was not dam-
see Surge, page 2
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