Since the end of May our community has been subject to high waters which have resulted in the evacuation of four homes (8 individuals) and the flooding of Hwy 99 on at least four separate occasions.   We have standing water on at least 10 properties which has destroyed crops, submersed septic tanks and caused an above average population of mosquitoes.

The Band has been working closely with several agencies to try and find solutions to this annual problem and after seven years, we are finally seeing some progress.

The cause of Mount Currie's flooding problem is complicated.  Our community sits at the confluence of two major rivers, the Birkenhead and the Lillooet.  Due to its location Mount Currie will always be subject to flooding but in recent years this flooding has become regular and persistent.  A lot of work has been done in the past to protect the communities of Pemberton and Mount Currie from flooding of the Lillooet but dyking works on the Birkenhead have been incomplete and is now the source of our regular concern.   This year we are in a particularly interesting situation as the reaches of the Upper Birkenhead have seen a higher than average snow pack.  Due to the fact that our summer was so slow in arriving, that snow has only just begun to melt so there is a lot of water trapped in the mountains that is slowly  making its way down to the valley.  We have been fortunate to not have any rain events since the warmer temperatures arrived which has helped keep water levels fairly consistent. 

The focus of attention in the Birkenhead River is a large log jam that has been forming for the past 15 years.  The log jam contains wood that the Lil'wat Fisheries department has observed was cut out of the river upstream by rafters and boaters trying to make the waters less obstructed.  While this practice has now stopped, the wood in the river has been slowing backing up at the log jam and in 2003 the jam grew exponentially larger as a result of the flood.  The jam, combined with an increase in aggregates in front of it have resulted in a changed course for the river.  The Birkenhead now cuts a path straight across from the pole yard over to Linda Crowther's house.  The water which once flowed north, away from these homes, now flows straight past and in high water events backs up into Grandmother Slough.  It is very hard to say if removing the log jam will change what is happening on the River as water will flow where it wants to flow.  There are, however, several projects currently in progress or in the planning stage which we hope will alleviate some of the pressures our community is facing.

Project One - Highway Ditching

This project is near completion and has seen the clearing of a debris plug which was blocking flow through the culverts under the highway at Paul Pierre's place.  This project has also involved the installation of several culverts and the clearing of 600m of ditch from John Williams place right up to Dean's corner.  This work should relieve much of the flooding of the four properties on the north side of the highway which are immediately impacted each year.

Project Two - Clearing of Pasture Creek

Pasture Creek has long been a relief ditch for flood waters but over the years it has not been maintained and as a result has become a series of ponds through which water does not flow.  Public works crews will go in to the pasture to clear out the creek and restore the flow eastward from Grandmother Slough out into the Birkenhead.  This work will involve the construction of an overflow ditch from the slough, under Rancheree Road and into the wetlands in the Band Pasture. We hope that this work will start this week.

Project Three - Removal of the Log Jam

The third part of the puzzle is the removal of the log jam.  The Ministry of Environment along with the Squamish Lillooet Regional District have taken the lead on resolving this situation.  The work plan for this project is still being reviewed but works must take place in consideration of our very small fish window.  In order to ensure that no works impact fish habitat this project must be done very carefully and agencies are working with Lil'wat Fisheries and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to ensure it is done right. 

Overall these project will offer short term relief of flooding to those people who have been directly impacted.  The overall solution to our community's problem is something that will have to be looked at in a much broader scale to fully understand all of the factors at play.  We have requested that a full River Assessment be started for the Birkenhead River so that we may better understand our risk and potential solutions for long term safety. 

If you have any questions about our flood relief works please contact Frank Andrew at 604-894-6115 or call the Lands Department at 604-894-2333. 

Photos from the field - Clockwise from top:  Ernie Jim surveys the flood extents; High waters at Dean's Corner; Backup of Grandmother Slough; Aerial view of Log Jam (courtesy Pemberton Valley Dyking District) 

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