Trail Daily Times, November 24, 2015

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Summer fires could impact winter road conditions

AIR TIME

SHERI REGNIER Trail Times

Flooded roads, rocks on highways and rural landslides may become a forecast feature in the upcoming months. The West Kootenay region is at increased risk for perilous conditions this winter and spring following a summer of forest fires that destroyed Mother Nature’s natural anchors. “The whole mountainside has been compromised by the wildfires,” explained Ken Lawson, Emcon’s Kootenay Boundary division manager. “That means we lost a lot of the natural anchor that would hold the snow. And we are not sure how the heat is going to affect the rocks, because some of the areas have been heated and that could potentially loosen the rocks.” In August, a large fire in the Paulson Pass decimated 320 hectares of foliage as well as the ministry’s avalanche weather station. Crews from Emcon Services and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure recently dug out 3,000 metres of soil west of the Paulson Bridge and constructed a large catchment area. “That was strictly to try to catch or slow down rocks or snow that could potentially come down,” Lawson confirmed. “The weather station is being replaced, and avalanche techs with the ministry are monitoring the area with the change of terrain.” He said another area of concern, especially when the snow melts, is Rock Creek. Almost 4,500 hectares went up in flames three months ago, leaving the region in a hygroscopic state. Hygroscopy refers to the ability of a substance to attract and hold water molecules from the surrounding environment. In the case of wildfire, that means the loss of vegetation and tree root systems has significantly impacted water absorption and retention. “So the other issue we are going to have in Rock Creek as well as the Paulson, is the water runoff is going to change because of the burnt soils,” Lawson explained. “It’s not going to retain the moisture it used to so we are expecting larger runoffs and more materials to move with the water. So there is potential for the over-running of drainage systems and flooding of highways.” CONTINUED ON PG. 3

Sheri Regnier photo

Planes, trains, automobiles and ships took centre stage at the Waneta Plaza on the weekend during “Model Train Days,” presented by the Golden City Railway Modellers. Though planes, boats and car displays were dismantled Sunday, from Wednesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., shoppers can browse through the group’s intricate models (located next to children’s playroom) from the days when trains still chugged through downtown Rossland.

Funding secured to highlight Lower Columbia tourism VALERIE ROSSI Trail Times

Promoting tourism in the region as a whole, makes a lot of sense to Deanne Steven of Tourism Rossland. She has been leading collaborative work in the Lower Columbia with continued financial backing, most recently just over $183,000, from Community Directed Funds administered by the Lower Columbia Community Development

Team Society. “We’re working on this theme to get people to stay longer and spend more while they’re here,” she told the Trail Times. “That’s kind of what our overriding theme throughout this has been.” The direction of newly announced funding started with Destination BC facilitating a strategic planning session, where a wide-range of stakeholders, including politicians, businesses, arts councils, golf

courses and others in the tourism sector got together to talk about their future. The funding will allow Tourism Rossland to extend and build on initiatives already deemed a success, like the Google Business Photos and View Virtual Project that saw 57 businesses and organizations in the Lower Columbia further develop an online presence this past summer. “It’s going to benefit all of us, I’m totally CONTINUED ON PG. 2

BLACK FRIDAY STOREWIDE SAVINGS! IS THIS FRIDAY!

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR Nov. 26 - 29

SANTA ARRIVES Nov. 28 @ 11AM

Free kids playroom and ball pit

www.wanetaplaza.com

Contact the Times:

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Trail Daily Times, November 24, 2015 by Black Press Media Group - Issuu