B.C. to review drainage at Okanagan development after home hit by landslide

The province says it will be reviewing the drainage system at a Naramata, B.C., property developmentaftera torrent of mud, waterand debris crashedinto a home downhill from the site during extreme rain.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure says a month's worth of rain fell in 24 hours on March 22, causing floods across the regionandforcing chunks of earth to give way above DavidLea's property.

Leasays waterflowed down from the trail into and around his home for hours afterward, until an emergencydiversion was put in place by the Regional District ofOkanagan-Similkameen.

"The chasm up at the [Kettle Valley Railway Trail]end at the top is 12 feet deep and about 10 feet wide,and all the soil and boulders from that earth and space came down the hill," Lea said.

Lea claims a developmentlocated uphill from both his home andthe trailhasaltered the drainage patterns in thearea. He'sconcerned that with moreheavy rainfall, his home could be threatened by another landslide.

Province reviewing drainage system

At the time of the slide, Lea's home was evacuated, and the regional district provided emergency housing for him and his wife.

They've since moved back, and CameronBaughenof the regional districtsays the house is now safe, citing ageotechnicalsurvey conducted soon after the landslide.

In a statement, the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructuresaid it has ordered a more detailed review of the developmentto ensure its drainage systemis working as intended. It says the review will be completed over the spring.

Meanwhile, the ministry says it is working with the B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources and Rural Development to figure out whether any immediate improvements can be made to that system.

With files from CBC'sDaybreak South