The Basin Record Newsletter Vol.7 Issue 1

Published by the Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History CBIRH Newsletter : Vol. 7 No.1 The Town of Kimberley was struck by a devastating flood in May of 1948. Mark Creek overflowed it’s banks due to the melting of a heavy snow pack that year. Excess water flooded into the community of Kimberley. Many streets and homes were flooded, and in some cases swept away, while others were dynamited to clear a path for the raging water. Total damages in Kimberley were estimated at a million dollars. This event marked a tragic spot in the town people’s collective memories. As a result the Mark Creek Flume was constructed to mitigate future flooding in 1950, having an esti- mated service life of 50 years. This project was put to the test when another flood hit Kimberley in 1956. Although not as intense as the previous flood it still caused worry for the townspeople. In 2012 the flume started to weaken and questions arose concerning its structural integrity. Kimberley secured $2Million in provincial & federal funding and the city contributed an additional $1M with a total cost of $3.4M to undergo a revitalize the flume. The flume is estimated to provide 100 years of service encasing a creek length of 400m concrete. Name:____________________________________________________________________ Mailing Address:____________________________________________________________ Phone Number:_____________________________________________________________ Email Address:_____________________________________________________________ Please drop off or mail this form with payments in cash, cheque or money order to Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History. Suite #105, 105-9th Ave South, Cranbrook, BC V1C 2M1 | Telephone: 1-250-489-9150 | E-mail: info@basininstitute.org Annual Membership Fee : Basic $ 5.00 : Individual $ 25.00 : Family $ 40.00 : Institutional $ 50.00 : Corporate $ 200.00 Wallinger Ave, Flood of 1948 Kimberley, B.C.—0199.0084 Mark Creek Flood Kimberley 1948 Kimberley, B.C. Become a Member of CBIRH