District to undertake drainage studySylvie Paillard
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A series of natural events and infrastructure problems resulted in dramatic flooding in the Garibaldi Highlands and downtown on Monday (Nov. 6).
The problems began when 300 millimetres of rain fell within 48 hours on Sunday and Monday (Nov. 5 and 6) - more than most of the rest of the Lower Mainland.
Kintyre Drive was inundated when a torrent of water rushing along a drainage system to Mashiter Creek hit grating blocked by soccer balls, clothing and debris that had been picked up the week before during unusually high winds.
The velocity of rushing water changed direction when it hit the blockage and caused two manholes to erupt in the Highlands. Rushing water also caused a landslide behind Harold's Auto Body on Paco Road.
"It was really a freak thing," said Coun. Patricia Heintzman who took a tour of municipal infrastructure with operations staff Monday.High tides coupled with the heavy rains also caused flooding in downtown Squamish, most noticeably on Fourth and Fifth avenues between Victoria and Vancouver streets.
Operations staff hurried from one scene to another Sunday and Monday trying to control damage caused by infrastructure problems. The system "held up" however, said Mayor Ian Sutherland, who commended staff during District of Squamish council meeting Tuesday (Nov. 7).
Council then passed a motion first brought forward by Heintzman Oct. 17 for the creation a community committee to explore dyking options, for staff to bring forward an action plan to address dyking and drainage issues, including an update of dyking studies and budget allotments in the 2006 budget.
