UPDATE: The Town of Ladysmith is still advising residents to avoid use of the lower secton of the Holland Creek Trail, as of Nov. 18. The town said parks crews have completed an initial survey of the area and found potential hazards, including significant debris as well as soggy and unstable ground.
“The current oversaturation could also contribute to trees being more easily uprooted during a wind event,” the twon wrote in a news release. “Please do not use the trail until further notice and we will keep you updated as conditions improve.”
PREVOUSLY POSTED: Sections of Holland Creek trail under water
Heavy rainfall caused severe flooding to low-lying areas of the Holland Creek Trail. The Town of Ladysmith has created a map showing flooded areas, which can be found on its website.
“The water is fast moving and the public is strongly advised to stay a safe distance from the back from the watercourse,” reads a social media post from the town. “The ground is muddy and slippery and getting too close to the bank can be a risk to your safety.”
It said the heavy rain has also created a higher risk of erosion and potential uprooting of trees due to the ground being heavily saturated and asked the public to avoid the trail for the until conditions have improved.
Residents are also advised to download the Cowichan Alert app to receive emergency notifications.
Infrastructure services crews were out sandbagging areas where localized flooding occurred. They also checked catch basins and monitored culverts to ensure infrastructure was functioning under the increased pressure.
The town discouraged residents from using local trail systems until water subsides.
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editor@ladysmithchronicle.com
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