By Chad Klassen

Cache Creek resident says culvert back-up caused major damage

May 12, 2017 | 4:42 PM

CACHE CREEK, B.C. — A week after flooding ripped through parts of the Thompson region, the clean-up will take months.

In Cache Creek, property owner Ray Duggan, who avoided significant damage during the 2015 flood, couldn’t escape this year’s disaster.

But it’s not the first time he’s been dealing with devastation to his property. Only this time, it’s much worse. 

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“The last week’s been pretty rough,” said Duggan. “Cache Creek blew the banks here. The culvert was inadequate to take the flow. This is second time this happened.”

Duggan has been lobbying the province for a bigger culvert for years. When the flood waters came up two years ago, he asked again, but he says the Ministry of Transportation wasn’t concerned. 

“The Ministry of Transportation has looked at it. They knew it was a problem years ago, two or three years ago, the same situation. This time, it’s way worse. We lost way more.”

Without power, they are running off a generator. Duggan estimates the damage at $150,000. Thankfully, the family’s house was untouched. 

But now the only way in and out of his place is by ATV with the main road gone. 

“It used to be a 200-meter drive down the road, and now we can get by. Four-wheel drive and ATV, we can get in and out. It’s not ideal, but we’re going to live with it,” said Duggan. 

Duggan’s property is outside Cache Creek limits, but mayor John Ranta says the village will try and help as best it can. 

“I don’t know if we’re in a position to be putting culverts in or anything else,” said Ranta. “Bridges in over the river. There are two or three private bridges that go across Cache Creek to get to residential property on the other side.”

After going through this mess again, Duggan just wants that culvert finally upgraded. 

“This all could’ve been prevented,” noted Duggan. “Now they have to rebuild quite a bit of road and all at a cost to the taxpayer, and I’m sure that’s not going to be cheap. I would like them to put my land back where it was.”