Work completed on Hummingbird Creek to prevent future flooding amounts to short-term gain and long-term pain for some Swansea Point residents.
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure spokesperson Kate Trotter said the proposed armouring and restoration of the creek – phase two of remedial work since the June 23 debris flow – was completed in partnership with Emergency Management BC (EMBC) on March 20. This phase included repairs to stream bank riprap and the removal of material from the stream bed downstream from the Highway 97A culvert.
In an email to Swansea Point residents, EMBC executive officer Cameron Lewis states the work has “resulted in significant reductions in flood risk for the Swansea Point community,” adding no further works are planned. This includes the replacement of the highway culvert, identified by many Swansea Point residents as the weak spot when it comes to allowing the flow of large debris.
“The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has advised that the existing culvert under Highway 97A is adequate to meet anticipated flows,” says Lewis. “A larger culvert may however, be considered as part of future highway infrastructure upgrades.”
Local reaction to the works is a mixed bag. During last summer’s debris flow, Lois Schurek could only watch as a large chunk of her property adjacent to the creek was washed away. She says it has all since been repaired, and commends the province for work “well done.”
“They did a superb job stacking and reinforcing; they also built it up another three feet,” says Schurek. “With all the rip rap and careful work I feel this repair, under normal flows, should last 50 years.”
But Schurek notes the longevity of the repair will depend on how the culvert holds out.
“We all feel it will plug, and we all hope their plan to remove the rock will work,” says Schurek. “We just wonder at what cost and for how many years will they do this rather than put in a bridge which will allow for more space for rocks etc.?”
Speaking to the culvert, Cameron states the ministry has deemed the culvert “adequate” to meet anticipated flows, and that a larger culvert may be considered as part of future highway upgrades.
Hummingbird Beach Resort’s Steel Jordan also has mixed feelings about the province’s handiwork in the creek, and overall commitment to public safety.
“In my estimation, had we not put the pressures on them (the province) with the letters, there really was no plan, and I think the plan – what was executed, is reflective of that,” says Jordan. “They did the bare minimum. Will it make a difference in the short term? Probably. Is there a long-term, sort of holistic approach, right from the top, right down to the lake, and is that approach needed? Absolutely. Have they fallen short of their responsibilities? I think so.”
Swansea Point Community Association president and secretary Tina and Dan Keely say there are still several breaches that have gone unprepared to a bank near a community trailer park, and a stream bed carved behind Hummingbird Resort was also neglected.
“So we are all very worried about that same culvert and, of course, the trailer park folks, who would not stand a chance,” state the Keelys in an email.
Trotter says the province will be closely monitoring the creek this year through freshet, and will have equipment and operators standing by on site.
“This equipment will be able to quickly and proactively address any debris build-up at the culvert inlet while ensuring that these recent in-stream repairs function as designed by our engineers,” says Trotter. This, for the Keelys and Jordan, is both comforting and a concern.
“If they did the job that they were supposed to, it’s likely they probably wouldn’t have to monitor,” says Jordan. “But the reality is, they were only ever able to complete a certain amount of work anyways, which is what we got.”
The equipment will remain stationed in the area, says Lewis, until it is confirmed the recently completed works are stable.