KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK TUESDAY
LOCAL NEWS
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MAY 2, 2017 | Volume 30 No. 52
POTHOLE SEASON TODAY’S WEATHER
Sun and clouds High 20 C Low 10 C
Locations of winter’s legacy can be reported to the city
A17
ACCUSED MAY ENTER A GUILTY PLEA Kristopher Teichrieb charged with assaulting Jessie Simpson
A7
LANDSLIDE FEARS LEAD TO EVACUATIONS CAM FORTEMS STAFF REPORTER cam@kamloopsthisweek.com
Campbell Creek began rising 10 days ago and residents fear projected warm temperatures this week — a high of 29 C is forecast for Thursday — will worsen the situation. ANDREA KLASSEN/KTW
Sandbagging as Campbell Creek rises ANDREA KLASSEN STAFF REPORTER andrea@kamloopsthisweek.com
From the driveway of her Campbell Creek home, Vicki Gehring has a frontrow view of the water churning its way past her home and making lakes out of some of her neighbours’ yards. “Normally standing here, you can’t see the creek,” she said. Even at the high water mark in midJune, the creek is usually a few feet below her yard. This year, the water is high enough that it is starting to crest some of the sandbags that have been walling her property off for more than a week.
Other nearby yards feature large pools of water and Gehring said a nearby field where she pens horses is completely flooded. The creek started rising 10 days ago and residents suspect it has yet to reach its peak. On Barnhartvale Road, which crosses over the creek, water is beginning to pool at the sides of the roads. Steve Kanigan, whose home overlooks the crossing, said he expects the water could end up covering the road as it did about 20 years ago, the only other time in his 50 years on the property the water ran this high. “I don’t think we’re done yet,” he said. “If it gets warm, it’s going to be going up.”
City of Kamloops public works director Jen Fretz said the city has dropped off bags and sand for residents who need to shore up their properties. With Environment Canada calling for highs of 25 C tomorrow and 29 C by Thursday, Gehring is also concerned more water is on the way. She said the stillfrozen Scuitto Lake, located to the south, will likely compound the situation when ice on it melts. She noted friends at higher elevations are still dealing with snow, another potential source of runoff. Yesterday morning, she was planning to start on a new wall of sandbags — this time around the house.
The city is considering installation of a pipe to divert water from a Rayleigh hillside that is at risk of landslide. Officials from the city and province met yesterday morning to consider options to lessen risk in the Palmer-Forsyth area, where a large hill is sloughing due to heavy runoff. The bank can be seen to be collapsing and a small slide occurred last month across Highway 5 North. At least 22 people from eight homes were evacuated on April 27 from Ramage Road on the west side of the highway. A state of local emergency has been declared due to fears of the landslide. City spokeswoman Tammy Robertson said slope-monitoring equipment installed over the weekend showed the hillside continuing to move downward. The city and provincial Ministry of Transportation are looking at ways to lessen risk. “These efforts could include installation of a pipe to divert water from a spring located above the sloughing area around the problem slope,” the city said in a statement. “This mitigation measure would take approximately seven days to complete. The water diversion is expected to improve drying of the hillside and stop the soil movement.” The evacuation order remains in effect. Residents have been given 13 days worth of support, Campbell said. Other infrastructure at risk include the highway, CN Rail track and a high-pressure gas line. See FALL HEAVY RAINS, A4