Flash Flood in Savona on June 30, 2024 (Image credit: Contributed/Sunshine Billy)

By Michael Reeve

AGING INFRASTRUCTURE

Fearing another flood, Savona residents look for provincial support

Jan 23, 2025 | 4:54 PM

KAMLOOPS — June 30, 2024, is a day well remembered by the residents of Savona, and while the flash flood caused significant damage, thankfully no homes were lost. But residents are now concerned it could happen again without government action.

“We stand the risk of having this happen all over again,” Linette Bender told CFJC News, “because essentially right now we have a culvert system that runs off the mountainside underneath the Trans Canada Highway, underneath the CP line, toward Savona Access Road where virtually the drainage system infrastructure ends.”

The needed work falls under the jurisdiction of the provincial government.

The group, represented by Bender, hopes having the TNRD behind it will bring greater attention to the issue.

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“(The) TNRD — I’m glad they just took our letter and they are going to read it at [Thursday’s] (Jan. 23) board meeting. And I’m hoping that this will make a difference to have [the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure] start to be active and put in a drainage system,” added Bender.

Savona is represented in Victoria by Conservative MLA Lorne Doerkson. He says the issue is, sadly, not unique for his riding.

“This is a problem that really extends to so much of the riding where we have actually seen infrastructure that isn’t meeting the grade. And what I mean by that is, I’ve been to the culvert where it was just simply overwhelmed during what was a serious rain storm. The arguments against doing this really are pretty weak,” said Doerkson.

While the legislature is not currently in session, Doerkson is already writing to Minister Mike Farnworth.

“I think this conversation has happened repeatedly with MOTI. I think it can certainly happen with the new minister of infrastructure, as well. I think this is certainly a serious problem throughout Cariboo-Chilcotin, frankly, and we have seen it before where culverts have been overwhelmed,” said Doerkson.

The culvert under the highway in Savona was constructed in 1953, adding to the concern of whether it can handle storm surges.

“We’ve always been threatened with high water coming from the lake. We are prepared for that,” said Bender. “We just never expected it to come from the other side, down the mountainside, and I guess with the fires and stuff like that it, just came with a vengeance.”

The TNRD did approve a motion to support the residents in appealing for ministry help.

CFJC News reached out to the ministry of transportation and transit Thursday. Minister Mike Farnworth was not made available for comment on our story.