Stormwater Runoff Threatens Water Quality in BX Creek

Mountain environments often experience extreme weather events, and Silver Star Mountain certainly is no exception. Precipitation at the resort is twice that of Vernon, and 62% falls as snow. Almost 2 metres of snow can accumulate at the elevation of the village, with deeper snowpacks near the summit. Some years, almost all the snow has disappeared from the resort village area by the end of April, and other years will still see up to a metre or more of snow in the shaded areas of the mountain in the first week of June.

In years when there is a cool Spring, the snowpack may stay quite late, and then the weather can turn warm very quickly, often combined with rain. These sort of events are not unusual at Silver Star, and they can create havoc for stormwater drainage systems, sewer systems, and residential structures. 

Storm drains can overflow, sanitary sewer systems can be inundated with meltwater or experience line breakages, basements can flood, and massive amounts of erosion can occur very quickly, with sediment and contaminants washing into local streams. Excavated homesites and uncompleted road and ski trail construction can expose soils which are easily washed away.

The photos below show examples of erosion that occurred in May, 2008 when the weather turned warm after a long, cool Spring. Most resort property owners do not see these sort of events, since most of the residences are vacant from the time the ski lifts close, until the resort opens for summer activities.

 

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