Stump Lake residents desperate to see flooding solutions approved quickly
Jun 17, 2020 | 4:30 PM
James Peters
STUMP LAKE, B.C – Spring flooding this year has hit those living near Stump Lake harder than it has in decades. Homes have been rendered un-livable, property has been damaged, and the residents who remain are fighting each day to save what’s left.
To protect their home along the shores of Stump Lake, Debbie and Devon Nickle have been sandbagging for four months straight. Their property has been overrun by water, and each day they say the lake water climbs further and further towards the house.
Around them, the water has irreparably damaged homes, washed out roads, eroded the hillside and uprooted trees.
“I mean you’ve seen the devastation all around the lake, so it’s not only us,” notes Debbie. “It’s everybody on this lake, or almost everybody, and we’re all just asking for help.”
The Nickles have been working to protect their home, as the property around it becomes overrun with floodwaters. (Image Credit: Adam Donnelly / CFJC Today)
Some of that help is coming from the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, but Director of Community Services Ron Storie says at this point, the district is limited in what it can do.
“We’ve provided sandbags, we’ve done studies, we’ve provided sand, we’ve provided hydrology expertise, and now we’re at the point where we’re in a waiting mode.”
Part of why the lake has flooded so drastically stems from a 100-year-old man-made structure at one end of the lake, which has clogged the lake’s natural release. To avoid flooding downstream properties, residents are hoping the excess water can be gradually let out.
Stump Lake resident Mike Kidd showed CFJC Today around the lake Wednesday (June 17), and says a solid solution would be to excavate the existing blockage to let some of the lake flow out, and build a controlled dam for future use.
“If we could drop the lake in the fall four feet every year, that would be ideal. And it wouldn’t be a big impact to the downstream people because that excess water at that time of year isn’t really a problem. It’s only a problem in the spring. And if we do nothing, they’re going to have all this water next spring anyway.”
According to Kidd, the vast majority of properties around the lake had been permitted to build there. He notes the high water marker that those building permits are based around is currently under about eight feet of water.
For a long term fix, Storie says the TNRD has to have a report financed that would outline solution that would work for everyone in the area. After that, the TNRD would be able to create a bylaw allowing for the operation and maintenance of a dam, and other government bodies could get started on their sides of the approval process.
“Hopefully we can get this report done quickly. It can go to the province, they’ll start their formal process moving forward. And their process is what we call a Section 11, which allows us to excavate. There’s a piece of it that talks about water licensing, and then there’s a piece of it that talks about dam application,” explains Storie. “So that’s their piece; our piece is strictly the bylaw.”
Between all the inter-governmental approvals a proposal for a controlled dam needs, Storie says it could take years to have a permanent solution set up.
“My best guess, if there were no appeals, probably 2023-2024.”
Stump Lake residents understand that any long term solution would need various studies and reports to be undertaken, but Debbie and Devon Nickle say they’re desperate for a short term solution to be put in place before the end of summer.
They’ve been in touch with Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart, and they’re hoping to have the issue brought up in the upcoming B.C legislature sitting.
“If they don’t do it this late summer, or in the fall, then we don’t stand a chance for next spring. And you just walk away from this?” said Debbie.
“[We’re] approaching $100,000 in costs,” added Devon.
