Place Glacier Outburst Flood Hazard

The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) has received a report that details potential measures to address the Place Glacier hazard near Gates Lake and Poole Creek in Electoral Area C of the SLRD.

This Conceptual Design Options Summary describes works that can be undertaken to reduce Place Glacier’s outburst flood risk and provides a scientific framework to support emergency management decision-making. It builds upon the Place Glacier Hazard Assessment Report that was released in the fall of 2025.

Both reports are linked below:

Place Glacier Conceptual Design Options Summary

Place Glacier Hazard Assessment Report

These reports have been shared with the appropriate Provincial ministries, along with a request from the SLRD Board for Provincial leadership and funding to address Place Glacier hazards.

Background:

In 2024 and 2025, an ice-marginal lake on Place Glacier experienced a rapid outburst of water causing debris floods through residential properties near Poole Creek and Gates Lake in Electoral Area C of the SLRD.

In 2024, the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR) provided emergency response funds to restore water channels to their normal alignment and drain flood waters. During the 2025 outburst, these water channels were re-damaged and are vulnerable to future glacial outburst and precipitation-driven flood events.

In both 2024 and 2025, properties were placed on Evacuation Alert due to increased potential for precipitation-driven flooding to impact residential structures as a result of these damaged water channels.

In 2025, EMCR funded the Place Glacier Hazard Assessment Report to better understand the hazard’s long-term public safety risks. This study found that ice-marginal lake outbursts from Place Glacier are likely to re-occur on an annual basis until the glacier recedes, thus posing a persistent hazard to residential structures in the valley bottom.

The magnitude of these annual outbursts may be equivalent to or greater than 1 in a 200-year return period flood. Without intervention they will continue to pose an ongoing risk to public safety, especially when outburst flooding is followed by heavy precipitation.

EMCR also funded the Conceptual Design Options Summary that includes proposals to reduce disaster risk associated with Place Glacier hazards. In this summary, experts outline five potential options to protect public safety. These options range from installing a siphon, installing pumps, drilling a conduit through bedrock, constructing a dam, or using explosives to fracture open a conduit through the glacier. Each option was evaluated for its feasibility, cost, construction considerations, operation and maintenance requirements, and environmental impact.

All options described in the Conceptual Design Options Summary include repairing and maintaining the water channels below Place Glacier, similar to the work completed in late summer 2024.
Implementation of any option would require Provincial funding approval, as well as completion of all necessary regulatory requirements and consultations.
 

Next Steps:
The path forward with respect to Place Glacier will be determined in collaboration with the Province of British Columbia, which has jurisdiction over the glacier and its downstream water channels as Provincially managed land. 

While the Report presents options and recommendations, the Province will determine next steps and may also consider additional approaches beyond those outlined in the report. The SLRD’s role is to advocate for community members and the environment, and to undertake emergency works that are approved and funded by the Province.

The SLRD recognizes that the ongoing Place Glacier hazard is of significant concern to downstream communities, and we share that concern. The SLRD Board of Directors has submitted a letter (link to letter) to the Province requesting leadership and timely action to protect public safety. This follows a June 2025 letter to the Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness and the Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, requesting immediate action in response to the outburst flood hazard at Place Glacier.

The SLRD also issued a News Release on this matter on March 9, 2026.

As we await further direction, we remain committed to keeping the community informed about ongoing discussions and related decisions.

Once a path forward has been confirmed, the SLRD will host a hybrid (virtual and in-person) town hall to provide an update and answer questions from the community.

We would like to thank the community for its patience and ongoing support.  We also encourage all residents to prepare for emergencies and to use caution in areas that may be at risk.

Be Prepared

• Sign up for the SLRD Alert – our emergency alert notification system
• Sign up to receive Place Glacier and Electoral Area C updates by email
• Prepare Emergency Plans for your home, office and other locations
• Build your household emergency kit and grab-and-go bag

Members of the public are advised to exercise caution in the area of Place Glacier, Place Creek, Poole Creek, and Gates Lake:

• Avoid hazard zones – stay clear of steep gullies, alluvial fans, and historical/modelled debris flow paths. 
• Stay alert during intense rainfall – debris flows often occur during or shortly after heavy storms. While the most frequent threat of landslide hazard in the area was determined to be from glacial outbursts, debris flows can occur during periods of sustained rainfall or rapid snowmelt.
• Have an evacuation plan – know the fastest route to higher ground and practice it.
• Listen to warnings – pay attention to local alerts from the SLRD, sirens, or weather bulletins.
• Do not camp in areas of identified debris flow hazard – avoid setting up tents in dry creek beds, ravines, or fan toes. Mapping provided in the Place Glacier Hazard Assessment Report will support identification of hazardous areas on your property.
• Watch for natural warning signs – sudden rumbling, snapping trees, or increased sediment-laden water flow can signal an incoming debris flow. Know your evacuation plan.
• Move to higher ground immediately if you suspect a debris flow is coming — don’t wait for confirmation.
• Keep access routes clear – don’t block driveways or roads that emergency services might need.
• Create defensible space around properties – remove loose wood, debris, and objects that could be carried by flows.
• Educate your family and neighbors – ensure everyone knows the hazards and what to do in an emergency.

This is the latest update for the Place Glacier Outburst Hazard (including debris floods and debris flows), which is located in the Gates Lake and Poole Creek areas of Electoral Area C in the SLRD.

In response to the Place Glacier Outburst event that occurred in June 2025, the SLRD engaged geohazard and hydrotechnical specialists from Stantec Consulting Ltd. to conduct on-site investigations of the impacted area and inspect the emergency flood protection works that were constructed following the previous outburst event in July 2024.

The Place Glacier Hazard Assessment Report, a comprehensive technical report summarizing the impacts of the June 2025 Place Glacier outburst event, is now available and can also be found on the Local Hazards page on the SLRD website. 

The SLRD hosted a virtual Townhall event on Wednesday, November 5 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. on Microsoft Teams. Staff from the SLRD Protective Services team and technical experts from Stantec presented findings and answered questions. A recording of the townhall can be viewed on the SLRD's YouTube channel. 

Key findings from the Place Glacier Hazard Assessment Report:

• Based on hydraulic modelling of the 2025 Outburst Event, private lands between Gramsons and Birken that are adjacent to Poole Creek are exposed to flood hazards; however, higher-level hazard areas are mostly contained within the creek banks.
• During flood events, the areas immediately upstream of the culvert crossing at Poole Creek Road are exposed to higher hazard levels that pose unsafe conditions for people vehicles, and structures. The broader floodplain is generally safe for people, vehicles and structures.
• Hydraulic modelling demonstrates that the Glacier Outburst Event experienced in June 2025 was equivalent in magnitude to a 1 in 200-year return period rainfall-driven flood event. Outburst Events propagating from Place Glacier are anticipated to occur on an annual basis until the glacier recedes far enough to eliminate the depression where the ice-marginal lake forms.
• As a result of the June 2025 Outburst Event, the emergency embankment and riprap that was emplaced in response to the July 2024 Outburst Event was damaged. Repairing the 2024 emergency works would provide temporary mitigation from a future outburst of similar magnitude, but it is unknown if this would protect against a larger event.
• As glacial lake outburst events are expected to re-occur on an annual basis, it is recommended that a more robust, longer-term mitigation option be considered. If a longer-term option cannot be implemented prior to the anticipated 2026 glacial lake outburst (historically occurring between June and July) it is recommended that the emergency works be re-established no later than May 2026.

In response to this report, the SLRD has contracted Stantec to undertake a broader public safety study of Place Glacier hazards. Whereas the report shared today was focused on the impacts of the June 2025 outburst event, this new study will inform emergency preparedness measures for the next expected hazard period in Spring, 2026 and into the long-term future. It will also propose long-term mitigation options for consideration. This study will be completed in January 2026, which provides enough time to consider the options presented before the next expected hazard period.

The Place Glacier Hazard Assessment Report has been shared with the provincial Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR). The SLRD will continue to work closely with EMCR to determine appropriate next steps for this emergency response.

In June 2025, the SLRD sent a letter to the Ministers of EMCR and Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (WLRS) calling for provincial action and support in the assessment and management of this ongoing hazard, given that it exists on provincially-managed land. The SLRD will continue to advocate for long-term coordination and leadership from the Province to address Place Glacier flood and landslide hazards.

The SLRD Emergency Operations Centre will remain active at Level 1 while the SLRD continues to coordinate emergency response for this incident. Community updates will be shared as needed.

Members of the public are advised to exercise caution in the area:

• Avoid hazard zones – stay clear of steep gullies, alluvial fans, and historical/modelled debris flow paths. Geotechnical investigation may be warranted for future developments on the properties to ensure they are safe for the use intended.
• Stay alert during intense rainfall – debris flows often occur during or shortly after heavy storms. While the most frequent threat of landslide hazard in the area was determined to be from glacial outbursts, debris flows can occur during periods of sustained rainfall or rapid snowmelt.
• Have an evacuation plan – know the fastest route to higher ground and practice it.
• Listen to warnings – pay attention to local alerts from the SLRD, sirens, or weather bulletins.
• Do not camp in areas of identified debris flow hazard – avoid setting up tents in dry creek beds, ravines, or fan toes. Mapping provided in this report will support identification of hazardous areas on your property.
• Watch for natural warning signs – sudden rumbling, snapping trees, or increased sediment-laden water flow can signal an incoming debris flow. Know your evacuation plan.
• Move to higher ground immediately if you suspect a debris flow is coming — don’t wait for confirmation.
• Keep access routes clear – don’t block driveways or roads that emergency services might need.
• Create defensible space around properties – remove loose wood, debris, and objects that could be carried by flows.
• Educate your family and neighbors – ensure everyone knows the hazards and what to do in an emergency.

We wish to thank community members for their patience.

Subscribe to email updates about the Place Glacier Debris Flood and Flow Hazard.

To ensure you receive evacuation alerts and orders, sign up for the free SLRD Alert and receive notifications by email, text or phone: www.slrd.bc.ca/slrdalert.

This is the latest update from the Emergency Operations Centre, regarding the outburst flood hazard affecting the Gates Lake and Poole Creek areas of Electoral Area C in the SLRD.

Effective at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 11, 2025, the Evacuation Alert previously in place (issued June 19) for several properties in these areas has been RESCINDED.

An aerial investigation of the Place Creek watershed and Place Glacier was completed July 4, followed by a ground investigation of Place Creek and Poole Creek on July 8. Preliminary reports from subject matter experts indicate that there is low risk of another outburst flood impacting properties at valley bottom in the short term.

Though there is damage to the emergency berms that were created following the July 2024 outburst event, the subglacial lake that experienced an outburst flood on June 18, 2025 has now completely drained and further meltwater is unlikely to re-fill the lake in 2025. As such, the SLRD has rescinded the evacuation alert that was previously in place for this event. The SLRD will receive a summary report that details this hazard risk assessment in the coming weeks, and that report will be posted to the SLRD website.

The SLRD Emergency Operations Centre will remain active at Level 1 while we continue to work with the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, and also subject matter experts, to fully understand the short and long-term implications of hazards associated with the Place Glacier.

Members of the public are advised to continue to use caution in the area including the backcountry, and to avoid streambanks and water channels. There is potential for increased sediment and stream bank instability in these areas.

We wish to thank community members for their patience while the aerial and ground investigations were conducted, and throughout this emergency operations centre activation.

To ensure you receive evacuation alerts and orders, sign up for the free SLRD Alert and receive notifications by email, text or phone: www.slrd.bc.ca/slrdalert.

This is the latest update on the Evacuation Alert in effect for some properties in the Gates Lake and Poole Creek area of Electoral Area C. The SLRD Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) remains active at Level 1 and the Evacuation Alert issued on June 19 remains in effect.

An aerial assessment to assess the impacts from the June 18, 2025 debris flood event and the existing landslide and flood hazard risk, along with determining the work that may be required to restore previous hazard risk levels took place, as scheduled, on Friday, July 4. This will be followed by additional ground assessment on Tuesday, July 8.

The SLRD anticipates that a summary report will be received in the coming weeks. That report and any related information will be shared on the SLRD’s website.

Reminder: Members of the public are advised to continue to use caution in the area including the backcountry, and to avoid streambanks and water channels. There is potential for increased sediment and stream bank instability in these areas. 

If you witness additional signs of flooding to properties, please contact the SLRD at: 604-384-7357.
Stay up to date on the Place Glacier Outburst Flood Hazard: www.slrd.bc.ca/eoc

To ensure you receive evacuation alerts and orders, sign up for the free SLRD Alert and receive notifications by email, text or phone: www.slrd.bc.ca/slrdalert.

This is the latest update (July 2, 2025 at 3 p.m.) on the Evacuation Alert in effect for some properties in the Gates Lake and Poole Creek area of Electoral Area C (list of affected properties is here: www.slrd.bc.ca/eoc

New: An aerial assessment of the area is scheduled for Friday, July 4. Residents can expect to see crews on the ground, and helicopter activity in the air. The goal of this assessment is to:

• Assess impacts from the June 18, 2025 debris flood event;
• Assess the existing landslide and flood hazard risks; and
• Determine what work might be required to restore hazard risk levels to what they were prior to the June 18, 2025 debris flood event.

The SLRD anticipates that a summary report following the work on Friday will be received in the coming weeks. That report and any related information will be shared on the SLRD’s website.

Reminder: Members of the public are advised to continue to use caution in the area including the backcountry, and to avoid streambanks and water channels. There is potential for increased sediment and stream bank instability in these areas.

If you witness additional signs of flooding to properties, please contact the SLRD at: 604-384-7357. Stay up to date on the Place Glacier Outburst Flood Hazard: www.slrd.bc.ca/eoc

To ensure you receive evacuation alerts and orders, sign up for the free SLRD Alert and receive notifications by email, text or phone: www.slrd.bc.ca/slrdalert.

While on Evacuation Alert, please take the time to prepare:

• Make sure you have an evacuation plan in place for all members of your household, including pets
• Build an emergency kit and a grab-and-go bag
• Ensure you have supplies and necessary medications

The SLRD Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) remains active at Level 1 and the Evacuation Alert issued on June 19 remains in effect.

Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Update: 11 a.m. Friday, June 27, 2025.
This is the latest update on the Evacuation Alert in effect for some properties in the Gates Lake and Poole Creek area of Electoral Area C. The full list of affected properties is here: www.slrd.bc.ca/eoc 

As of 11 a.m. PT on June 27, the SLRD Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) remains active at Level 1 and the Evacuation Alert issued on June 19 remains in effect. While the initial flooding appears to have receded, there is ongoing assessment work that continues in the area to ensure that the immediate hazard risk has subsided.

Members of the public are advised to continue to use caution in the area including the backcountry, and to avoid streambanks and water channels. There is potential for increased sediment and stream bank instability in these areas. 

Heading into the weekend, you can expect increased traffic in the area. The SLRD reminds residents and visitors to the area that while there are no access restrictions affecting the area, there is an active Evacuation Alert in place. If you witness additional signs of flooding to properties, please contact the SLRD at: 604-384-7357. Stay up to date on the Place Glacier Outburst Flood Hazard: www.slrd.bc.ca/eoc.

To ensure you receive evacuation alerts and orders, sign up for the free SLRD Alert and receive notifications by email, text or phone: www.slrd.bc.ca/slrdalert.

While on Evacuation Alert, please take the time to prepare:

• Make sure you have an evacuation plan in place for all members of your household, including pets
• Build an emergency kit and a grab-and-go bag
• Ensure you have supplies and necessary medications

The EOC is on standby over the upcoming weekend. This will be the last update before next week, unless the situation changes. 

Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Update: 12 p.m. Monday, June 23, 2025
The EOC in relation to the Place Glacier Outburst Flood Hazard in Electoral Area C remains active at Level 1, and the Evacuation Alert for some properties in the Gates Lake and Poole Creek areas remains in place.

Over the weekend, localized flooding continued to recede, and no new flooding was reported.
Environment Canada’s weather forecast for Pemberton is calling for rain from today through Thursday.

The SLRD continues to work with provincial partners to conduct a fulsome risk assessment in the coming days. Residents can expect to see helicopter activity and personnel on the ground as this work takes place.

Members of the public are advised to continue to use caution in the area, including the backcountry, and to avoid streambanks and water channels. There is potential for increased sediment and stream bank instability in these areas.

If you witness additional signs of flooding to properties, please contact the SLRD at 604-384-7357.
Stay up to date on the Place Glacier Outburst Flood Hazard: www.slrd.bc.ca/eoc. To ensure you receive evacuation alerts and orders, sign up for the free SLRD Alert and receive notifications by email, text or phone: www.slrd.bc.ca/slrdalert.

While on Evacuation Alert, please take the time to prepare:

• Make sure you have an evacuation plan in place for all members of your household, including pets
• Build an emergency kit and a grab-and-go bag
• Ensure you have supplies and necessary medications

Updates will be shared as information becomes available.
 

This is the latest update on the Evacuation Alert in effect for some properties in the Gates Lake and Poole Creek area of Electoral Area C (list of affected properties is here: www.slrd.bc.ca/eoc )
As of 4:30 p.m. PT on June 20, the SLRD Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) remains active at Level 1, and will be on standby for the weekend with no further updates expected until Monday, June 23, unless the situation changes.

The subglacial lake at the toe of Place Glacier has drained, and valley flooding has continues to recede. Out of an abundance of caution, and due to inclement weather, including potential rainfall in the coming days, the evacuation alert will remain in effect over the weekend.

The SLRD is continuing to monitor the situation and will re-assess on Monday. An update will be provided at that time. Members of the public are advised to continue to use caution in the area including the backcountry, and to avoid streambanks and water channels. There is potential for increased sediment and stream bank instability in these areas.

If you witness additional signs of flooding to properties, please contact the SLRD at: 604-384-7357. Stay up to date on the Place Glacier Outburst Flood Hazard: www.slrd.bc.ca/eoc
To ensure you receive evacuation alerts and orders, sign up for the free SLRD Alert and receive notifications by email, text or phone: www.slrd.bc.ca/slrdalert

While on Evacuation Alert, please take the time to prepare:

Make sure you have an evacuation plan in place for all members of your household, including pets

Build an emergency kit and a grab-and-go bag

Ensure you have supplies and necessary medications

This is the latest update on the Evacuation Alert in effect for some properties in the Gates Lake and Poole Creek area of Electoral Area C (list of affected properties is here: www.slrd.bc.ca/eoc)  
As of noon PT on June 20, the SLRD Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) remains active at Level 1. The Evacuation Alert issued on June 19 remains in effect.

Indications this morning are that the subglacial lake at the toe of Place Glacier has drained, and some valley flooding has receded. 

Additional assessments are taking place on the ground today and we are awaiting further updates from several ministries including the Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MOTT) regarding the condition of area culverts. We are monitoring the situation and will update with important information, as we receive it. 

Residents and the public are advised to use caution in the area including the backcountry, and to avoid streambanks and water channels. There is potential for increased sediment and stream bank instability in these areas. 

If you witness additional signs of flooding to properties, please contact the SLRD at: 604-384-7357.
Stay up to date on the Place Glacier Outburst Flood Hazard: www.slrd.bc.ca/eoc
To ensure you receive evacuation alerts and orders, sign up for the free SLRD Alert and receive notifications by email, text or phone: www.slrd.bc.ca/slrdalert

The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) has activated its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) at Level 1 in response to an outburst flood hazard from Place Glacier, located above Gates Lake in Electoral Area C. The SLRD has issued an Evacuation Alert due to the risk of overland flooding and debris flood and potential impacts to the Poole Creek/ Gates Lake area in Electoral Area C.

On Thursday, June 19, a sudden high volume of water flowed from the subglacial lake on Place Glacier into the valley bottom. Because of the potential danger to life and health, the SLRD issued an Evacuation Alert for several properties, as outlined in the Evacuation Alert document.

With support from the Province, the SLRD coordinated an aerial review to assess the state of the glacial lake outburst and downflow into Place Creek. Technical experts have received data from the site that indicates the peak flood flow has passed.  

Background

In July 2024, a subglacial lake outburst at Place Glacier triggered a debris flood that caused flooding around Gates Lake and led to an emergency creek realignment. This included construction of a deflection berm to redirect Place Creek flow back into Poole Creek. That mitigation work remains intact and is functioning as designed. Since then, the subglacial lake at the toe of Place Glacier has reformed and is emptying again. The current flooding is a result of redirected water flow and localized conditions, not a berm failure.

The deflection berm installed to re-align water flow into Poole Creek during last year’s mitigation work is being held. The area experiencing flooding is different from last year, and the SLRD has checked culverts and other infrastructure to assess conditions. The SLRD is in touch with the Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MOTT). The SLRD is monitoring conditions closely and will share further updates as we learn more about potential ecological impacts.

Residents in the Poole Creek and Gates Lake areas are asked to:

• Report changes in water levels, turbidity, erosion, or other concerns: 604-384-7357.
• Use caution near creeks and drainage channels, which may be unstable or contain debris.
• Avoid hiking in the backcountry, near Place Creek and below or around Place Glacier
• Sign up for emergency alerts: Evacuation Alerts and Evacuation Orders are shared through the SLRD Alert – our emergency notification system. Sign up for SLRD Emergency Alerts (by text, phone, or email): www.slrd.bc.ca/alert.  
• Visit www.slrd.bc.ca/eoc for the most recent updates about this event.
• Subscribe to Electoral Area C email updates.