The debris torrent generated from this road destroyed the water system for approximately 40 families. This road was used as a fire access road during the 1985 fire season to access the fire on a north ridge above Sitkum Creek. Once this fire was declared out this road should have been deactivated. With proper deactivation this debris torrent could have been prevented. This road uses 10 switchbacks to gain 600 metres in elevation. Hydrologists say stacking switchbacks above each on a slope is a very poor practice as the cumulative damage to water drainage destabilizes the slope. The switch back immediately above the slide start zone has major drainage problems. The uppercut bank is sloughing and has filled the drainage ditch forcing water to course down the road. This indicates a lack of any recent road maintenance.

The switch back at the start zone also has sloughing problems on the upper cut bank. This cut bank has sloughed, plugging the drainage ditch and dispersing water out across the switch back. This switchback was built on approximately a 65 percent slope and used side cast road construction methods rather than benching and end haul. A drainage ditch from the upper side of the road delivered water across the end of the switch back and deposited it in approximately the middle of this slope and the slide scarp. An excess of water generated by the hot day on Saturday April 24th combined with approximately 2 ft. of snow on the area caused the slope to become over saturated as a result of the poor drainage construction and maintenance, resulting in the debris torrent into Bourke Creek. The upper slopes that this debris torrent ran on were in the 65% range. The slopes flattened off considerably after reaching Bourke Creek.

The road below the slide start zone also demonstrates poor drainage problems. There are many stretches along this road that water is allowed to run for a long distance down the drainage ditch before being diverted out across the road. If this road was properly maintained the drainage water would be diverted across the road immediately instead of allowing the water to flow in the inside pitch and saturate this side cast built road. There are many instances along this road that indicate a lack of maintenance. The drainage issues along this road need to be addressed before any other erosion events are generated.