by Sarah Benson-Lord
Trail Museum and Archives
Does this scene look familiar?
This week in 1977, the city marveled at the low river levels, most dramatic at Sandy Island (Gyro Park) where the roaring “Onions” used to be.
Although it was a drier winter that year, causation for this huge reduction was much different than what we are experiencing now.
That year, the City of Castlegar was working on a new sewer system for the municipality.
In order to install new outfall drainage, river levels needed to be lowered.
At the city’s request, BC Hydro agreed to close the spillways of the Hugh Keenleyside Dam, just prior to spring run-off.
Performing the closure also allowed for BC Hydro inspect energy dissipators using a dive team along the downstream side of the dam.
In accordance with the Columbia River Treaty, BC Hydro ensured the Bonneville reservoir at the Bonneville Dam, 40 miles upstream of Portland, Oregon, received enough water the week prior to make up for the shortfall during the work.
The spillways re-opened on Thursday, April 14 at 4 p.m.
Pictured here is a City of Trail loader harvesting some sand normally underwater to build up the beach above.
Also pictured is the original change house at the left and the Outdoor Theatre at the right, built in 1951.
Read more Trail Blazers:
Gyro Park, the perennial summertimehaven
Ceremony honours Trail airman, 17, and 22 others killed in Second World War
Remembering a young man from Trail who went to war and never came home
Long-lost poem recounts life of an air gunner
Colourful memories in ‘Silver City Linings’