Remnants of a powerful storm causing considerable damage to private property in Qualicum Beach on Friday, Jan. 7 (Submitted Photo)

By Ian Holmes

powerful storm

Town of Qualicum Beach pleased with how artificial spit performed during fierce storm

Jan 11, 2022 | 5:54 AM

QUALICUM BEACH — A high tide combined with storm winds caused havoc on the area’s waterfront, however the Town is convinced damage could have been more severe.

Director of planning Luke Sales said various waterfront enhancements implemented with a rising sea level in mind held up well during an intense storm on Friday, Jan. 7.

“Specifically the artificial marine spit that was built at the base of Memorial Ave. which protects Beach Creek, that weathered very well.”

Sales said piles of rocks in the ocean curving out from the walkway, doubling as a fish friendly entrance to Beach Creek and a storm softening feature, has been in place for the past two years.

Not so fortunate were multiple neighbouring properties.

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“There is quite a considerable amount of damage to private property,” Sales noted.

Nearby Sand Pebbles Inn was heavily damaged, while Sales said several properties on Judge’s Row to the south of its waterfront walkway were inflicted with storm related damage.

The Town asked people to stay away from the waterfront on Friday afternoon, citing a public health threat with heavy logs and other debris tossed onshore adjacent to Hwy. 19A.

Clean-up efforts continued all weekend after a storm whipped debris onto land on Qualicum Beach’s waterfront. (Kyle Ireland/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Sales said their new roundabout at the base of Memorial Ave. was built to be elevated above the highway for at least 50 years of future sea level rise.

Long-term plans to lengthen their waterfront walkway could involve expanding the artificial spit to offer more protection, along with other measures with the sea slowly rising, Sales said.

“That’s a move away from vertical walls that was sort of the traditional way of protecting our foreshore — moving away from that and into a more gentle slope, which would be more of a natural beach profile.”

Rising seas are a reality west coast communities have been grappling with for many years.

An extensive engineering report tabled for Qualicum Beach in 2016 warned of slowly rising seas and more frequent and powerful storms.

“It might be something that would occur every ten years, we might start seeing that every three years or every year as sea level rise proceeds. That’s the type of basis we have to be planning for.”

Sales said sea level rise guidelines are followed for all new infrastructure projects the Town does.

The City of Nanaimo stated an inspection revealed no damage occurred to its waterfront assets as a result of Friday’s storm.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes