Clearcutting and windfall trees from this winter’s blustery weather are causing concern for Cranberry residents, who say McFall Creek is being blocked on land owned by Island Timberlands and not flowing normally as a result.
Although her basement does not flood anymore, homeowner Elaine Steiger said her garden “is getting ruined.”
McFall Creek runs out of Cranberry Lake and down into Island Timberlands’ Lot 450.
Steiger and her neighbour Laurie Holuboch said the creek’s condition could lead to possible property damage for them and other property owners in the area.
Trees left after the clearcut act as a buffer along the creek riparian area and those that fell this winter are causing the flooding, according to Holuboch.
Steiger said she wants something done about a problem she has been dealing with for several years. So far, Island Timberlands has been unresponsive, she added.
Steiger said she thought she was getting somewhere with the company recently. According to an email she received on February 13 from Island Timberlands manager of government and community relations Makenzie Leine, the company had “someone scheduled to be on site today assessing the area so we can develop a plan.”
Since then, Steiger said she has yet to see or hear from anyone with the company.
“I emailed them again and haven't heard anything back from them,” said Steiger, adding that it was poor public relations on their part.
City of Powell River is aware of the potential for flooding.
“We informed the owner of the affected property that it's Island Timberlands’ responsibility at this time,” said city director of infrastructure Tor Birtig. “We're not permitted to go into the creek to maintain it.”
The city has not been in contact with Island Timberlands, according to manager of engineering services Frank D’Angio.
The area is within the jurisdiction of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, which further compounds the problem facing Steiger, said D’Angio.
“If they're going to be doing work on the creek it needs to be done during the fisheries window when the fish aren't spawning,” said D’Angio, “and to allow the fish to migrate for their hatch is from August to September.”
As a result, nothing can be done about McFall Creek flooding until the dry months of the year and only Island Timberlands can do the work.
Steiger’s family has lived on the property for 70 years. After the second flood in 2016, she said she has spent $17,000 in prevention measures against basement flooding. She said her industrial sump pump runs every 45 seconds during heavy rain periods and a $1,450 backup system for the pump is now being considered.
Steiger has also filed two insurance claims totalling approximately $11,000. Holuboc's insurer, Underwriters Insurance Agencies Powell River, expressed the importance and urgency of the matter to Island Timberlands in a letter dated February 22.
"I wish to express the severity of this circumstance; if not addressed with all due diligence, the overflow of the creek and resulting water damage to the surrounding properties pose a significant threat of financial loss, leaving the burden of repairing this damage to the property owners and their insurance companies,” stated Underwriters agent Scott Cameron in the letter.
Steiger said she has done all she can to address and prevent the flooding, but requires action to be taken to stop the flow of water into her garden.
“I have done everything possible to prevent further flooding in the basement, but cannot do anything about the flooding of the garden area, which I use for commercial purposes,” said Steiger. “If we get flooding every year, I might as well give up.”
Island Timberlands did not respond to requests for comment.
