The failure of a dam holding back an 80-year-old reservoir lake is responsible for a mudslide that destroyed five homes

near Oliver, B.C.

The reservoir is on Crown land, but the province says a local ranch owner holds the rights to the dam and is responsible for any maintenance.

Before
Hikers reported concerns
about the dam to a tourist
After office on Friday. Their
N concerns were relayed to
Testalinden Lake
the RCMP, who told
1 Earthen dam burst Sunday provincial government. No
public warning was issued
afternoon, sending
tons of mud and debris
down the slope. 0 50
M

Aerial photo shows mud coursing across the Okanagan Highway

2 Area of damage
A total of 25 properties were
evacuated, and five homes
were destroyed. The surface
area of the debris flow has
There is a
been estimated at 200,000
more than 400m square metres.*
difference in elevation
from the reservoir
to the homes

0 10
KM Penticton
97
BRITISH COLUMBIA N
3
0 150
97
KM
South Okanagan
Grassland Protected Penticton
Oliver
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Area Thompson-
Okanagan
Thompson- Kamloops
region
Okanagan
Detail region Kelowna
(above)
Vancouver
Osoyoos
Victoria * Private property only. This
WA S H I N GTO N does not include the area of
Testalinden Creek within the
THE GLOBE AND MAIL 66 PHOTOS: CTV NEWS, GOOGLE EARTH AND THE CANADIAN PRESS
upper ravine on Crown land.