$1.00 + HST Vol. 26 | No. 22 Thursday, November 11, 2010
Sara Germain photo
The Harris sisters brighten up Halloween at Nuxalk Hall - see more pictures of the fun on page 7
Flood mitigation work ongoing as emergency response continues BY CAITLIN THOMPSON The response to last months’ flood is not over as imminent threat mitigation work continues on four major streams in the Bella Coola Valley. Thorsen Creek, Snootli Creek, Nooklikonnic Creek and the Nusatsum River are all on the receiving end of heavy machinery as crews work to correct the damage caused by last months’ event. “We are now actively pursing flood repair projects on the downstream portion of four major creeks in the Valley,” said CCRD Emergency Program
Coordinator Stephen Waugh. “We have gained DFO approval to do so under an Emergency Response Measure.” Permits that would normally take months to approve have been fast-tracked due to the unprecedented event Bella Coola residents faced just six weeks ago. Excavators are in the area of many streams removing the enormous amount of bedload and debris that built up during the flood while consultants and road crews continue to size up the challenges. “There is a gigantic amount of sediment and woody debris that has built up in the creeks
and is now creating dams,” said Waugh. “Most people can’t see it but there are rats’ nests of debris plugs in every creek.” It is imperative that these plugs are removed so that the creeks can begin to flow normally again and highway infrastructure is protected. But, as Waugh stressed, the projects are being conducted with the utmost respect for fish habitat. “The fish habitat was completely destroyed in the flood,” he said. “We now have two teams of environmental and hydrotechnical engineers who are making sure the work is done so that the reconstruc-
tion of fish habitat is of utmost importance.” The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is working alongside the other agencies and is happy with the results. “So far there has been really good inter-agency cooperation,” said Joy Hillier, Habitat Section Head for DFO. “We are all working to try and meet all the needs of both fish and the safety of the public.” The Ministry of Transportation’s main contractor, Interior Roads Limited (IRL), has hired two firms to direct them in the environmental reconstruction.
Golder Associates and Triton Environmental Consultants Ltd are on the ground to assist with hydrology concerns and fish habitat. “They are doing an amazing job,” said Waugh. “People can take a measure of comfort in knowing that these concerns are being addressed in a big way.” This work is certainly promising, but there is still a massive amount of upstream mitigation work to be done outside of what is allowed under the Emergency Response. However, this second phase of mitigation SEE CREEK ON PAGE 8