The “king tide” failed to rule over Richmond on Wednesday, although parts of Steveston were under water overnight and into the morning.
The abnormal tide, seen once or twice a year, rose up through the lowest-lying parts of the village in the midst of yet another rain and windstorm.
A section of Westwater Drive was closed off briefly due to flooding behind Britannia Heritage Shipyards, while the sea level rose to almost par with the roadway at the southern tip of No. 1 Road and Bayview Street near Seabreeze Adventures.
Sections of the boardwalk were also under water, as were large parts of Garry Point Park, where the tide was threatening to spill over the beach line.
City of Richmond crews were out in force Tuesday and Wednesday to deal with the effects of the rare tide and storm and, by noon, some of the flooding had receded after the “king” peaked.
Although city spokesperson Ted Townsend said they were well prepared for the storm and the tide, his confidence wasn’t shared by longtime Steveston businessman Brett Peters, who has watched the floodwaters rise inch-by-inch over the years.
“I recall one other time being a little higher than today, but not much,” said Peters.
“Every year it gets a little bit higher and I estimate in 10 to 15 years there is going to be a major flood.
“The city, I know, is planning for it, they’re on it; but it’s happening now, today. This is an issue now; not for their master plans for the next 100 years.”
Peters said he’d hate to see a Calgary situation here in Richmond, referring to that city being flooded in June 2013 by the bursting of the banks of the Bow and Elbow rivers.
Townsend said Richmond is actually better prepared than most neighbouring municipalities, given how vulnerable Richmond is and has the “ability to move a lot of water with our pump system, and we have had extra crews out there today with the high tide and storms taking place.
“We’re probably better prepared than most cities because we are aware how vulnerable we are and have measures in place.”
An outer perimeter dike by Steveston Island is part of phase one of the city’s Dike Master Plan.
Townsend recalled a similar tide in 2012 when he noticed the water under the floorboards while inside the Gulf of Georgia Cannery.
“The biggest challenge (this week) was at Britannia, where, with king tides, we often get flooding down there, especially when it’s exacerbated by the rainstorm.
“Britannia is outside of the dike system so it gets affected more than other places.
“It seemed to peak earlier today and is receding.
The boardwalk was closed and we’ll have to do inspections before we can re-open it.”
