Lorenzetta Creek

Last updated on March 1, 2024

image from Lorenzetta

Area: Outside Hope

Work will include repairing banks and restoring channel capacity.

Lorenzetta Creek flows southwest from the Skagit Range of the Cascade Mountains, across the Fraser River floodplain for approximately 2 km, before flowing into Wahleach/Jones Creek, just east of Highway 1. Before reaching the floodplain, the creek flows across a very steep fan before flowing across an alluvial fan for approximately 500 meters upstream of McKay Road; this reach of the creek which flows across the alluvial fan is confined by berms/dikes on both banks.

Sediment removal in the basin has improved creek flow capacity. 

Project Details

Total Budget:

$3.4 Million

Projected Completion Date:

March 2025

Community & Taskforce Members

Lorenzetta map

Videos

Lorenzetta Creek Sediment Site

 

Sediment basin increasing capacity

 

Images

​​Above image: Looking downstream from site tour January 2024. 

Above image: Sediment basin from site tour January 2024. 

Above image:  Filling the basin

​​Above image: During site tour January 2024. 

​Above image: Looking upstream from site tour January 2024. 

Above image:  Enhanced boulder placement 

Risk Evaluation

 

Public Health and Safety

Fast flowing water, overland flooding from avulsion, and debris events could pose a hazard to members of the public who use McKay Road and Laidlaw Road, and those who reside and farm near Lorenzetta Creek.

 

River Capacity

Creek avulsions may occur in the future, leading to overland flow. Debris/ sediment deposition in Lorenzetta Creek could lead to creek flow overtopping the banks. Flooding or backwatering could also occur if the bridge crossing at McKay Road became blocked during future debris events.

 

Environmental

Damage to the blueberry fields due to flooding. Environmental contamination could result from flood waters transporting residual toxic substances from farm equipment and chemical storage areas.

 

Infrastructure

Flooding would damage adjacent blueberry fields, leading to loss of crops. McKay Road, and its bridge crossing, could also at risk of being damaged during significant flooding or debris events.

 

Contact information

Information Officer
sec.info.epd@gov.bc.ca