Kananaskis trails slowly reopen after severe flooding damages landscape

Kananaskis, Alberta, is slowly recovering from severe flooding that struck the region on June 28. The storm system caused significant damage, leading to evacuations and infrastructure failures, including a bridge collapse. While recent sunny weather has helped dry out some of the more accessible trails, many remain closed.

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Trails in areas that are prone to wetness, you know, bottom of valleys or trails that erode, there’s certainly more damage to them because so much water in a 24-hour period when those rains came in.

Trevor Julian, executive director of Friends of Kananaskis Country, noted that trails in low-lying areas or those prone to erosion have sustained more damage due to the intense rainfall. The Alberta Parks advisory page provides updates on trail re-openings.

Boundary Ranch, a local business, implemented measures like trenches and land bridges to protect its operations and staff. The ranch owner, Rick Guinn, emphasized the importance of preventative maintenance and adequate water mitigation infrastructure, citing issues from the 2013 flood that still pose a risk. Despite losing two days of business due to road closures, the ranch has resumed operations on the trails that are now dry.

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A lot of it is preventable. I tried to get some guys to do stuff up at the bridge, before it washed out, as I did in 2013. They just can’t move fast enough.

Guinn also highlighted the ongoing problem of deadfall from previous floods accumulating and blocking bridges, which could exacerbate damage during future high-water events. He stressed that proactive measures are crucial for preventing further damage to infrastructure and ensuring the continued operation of local businesses.

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Everybody used Traco’s now, they can get around. And down here at the bridge there from the 2013 flood for about 10 miles up the creek, there’s all this deadfall from the last flood that’s all dried out, waiting to float down the river. As soon as you get high water, it all comes down and plugs up the bridge.