Breached seawall in Tsawwassen held back flooding during morning ‘king tide’
Posted December 10, 2014 9:53 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
DELTA (NEWS1130) – An extreme tide and high winds whipped up the ocean off Tsawwassen where battered seawalls have managed to keep back a surge of water — at least, so far.
A section of wall collapsed yesterday at Boundary Bay. This morning, a “king tide” hit; it was an unusually high one at 5.5 metres, coupled with expected high winds and heavy rains.
Rainfall and wind warnings remain in effect for Metro Vancouver, but for now, it seems everything is holding.
A temporary seawall managed to do the job; all the others along properties here were topped at times by the highest waves, but there’s not a lot of water pooling up behind them along Seaview Crescent.
Despite the pounding some properties have been taking, home owners like Brenda are remarkably good-natured. “I spent $12,000 on new landscaping about a year and a half ago. It’s kind of a shame that it’s messed up the rocks. But you know what? It’s all repairable.”
The seawall at Boundary Bay breached yesterday and people living nearby have been warned to prepare for potential flooding. Parts of South Delta are under a local state of emergency.
The winds picked up this morning, gusting to about 60km/h.
“I’ve had to move into my vehicle just so you can hear me,” said News1130’s Mike Lloyd, reporting from the scene. “I’m at the end of Seaview Crescent, right on Boundary Bay… the waves are coming in fast and big; we’ve been dodging them as they slap over the sections of the wall.”
Environment Canada has issued a wind warning, with southeast winds up to 90km/h expected today.
Delta Mayor Lois Jackson says they have been continually monitoring the situation. “We’ve got people there to protect the site and keep people away from the area, given that we are now operating under a state of local emergency.”
There is fencing up, as well as a security guard keeping watch.
There’s also been sandbagging in Vancouver’s west side for the high tide.
Flood watches and high-stream advisories continue on the North Shore and Howe Sound. The District of North Vancouver is monitoring the levels of the Seymour River, in particular.
