A sharp rise in Hosmer Creek on the heels of 24 hours of steady rainfall prompted the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) to take action last night to remove some debris at the confluence of two creeks in Hosmer in an effort to restore water flow and prevent significant flooding.

“Our Flood Response Unit had been on site monitoring conditions after residents reported a sharp rise in water levels. There is an area that is prone to debris build up where Mine Creek and Hosmer Creek meet and the decision was made to seek approval from the Province for in-water works to remove the debris and restore water flow,” said RDEK Communications Manager Loree Duczek.

The order was approved late Tuesday afternoon and the in-stream work was completed by late last night. A noticeable decrease in water levels was noted upon removal of the debris.

“We want to thank the residents for sharing their concerns as water levels rose, and acknowledge the work of our team for acting so quickly, Water Stewardship for recognizing the emergent nature of the work and approving the order, the equipment contractor for going out of their way to mobilize a machine to site in a very short period of time, and the qualified professionals who responded to the site to oversee the work, thereby allowing us to get it completed last night,” added Duczek.

The contractor was back on site this morning to complete the clean-up of the site.

The BC River Forecast Centre’s High Streamflow Advisory for the East Kootenay has now ended; however, the region may continue to experience sudden and unpredicted changes on local waterways over the coming weeks as high elevation snow continues to melt.

RDEK

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