Community Update #6: Poole Creek / Gates Lake Flood and Debris Flood

News date
Applicable communities
Electoral Area C

Issued: August 27, 2024

With support from the provincial Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR), the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) is pleased to advise community members that work will proceed on realigning Place Creek back into its original alignment draining into Poole Creek.  

The current flood risk presented to the Gates Lake area was caused by a glacial lake outburst at high elevation on July 21, which resulted in a debris flood that created an avulsion on the creek’s alluvial fan and diverted water away from Poole Creek toward Gates Lake. This work will restore the channel and flow direction back to Poole Creek as it was prior to the July 21 debris flood event. 

The work began Monday, August 26 and will see equipment working alongside engineers to execute the realignment. The SLRD has consulted with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Lil’wat Nation in the development of this creek realignment plan. Lil’wat Nation Fisheries Technicians will be present while the work is being conducted. The SLRD has also contracted Qualified Environmental Professionals to be present to review that all work done mitigates negative environmental impacts, restores habitat and is performed within the parameters of the appropriate environmental legislation.

Work includes the following actions:

  • Construction of two access routes up to the avulsion location which will also serve as the alignment for the re-stablished embankment and channel respectively.
  • Excavation of a channel from the avulsion location down the alluvial fan to the connection with the pre-event channel.  The excavated channel will pass through the BC Hydro right-of-way as it did before the event.
  • Use of the material excavated from the re-instated channel to create an embankment along the slope parallel to the proposed channel as it was prior to the event and where required to re-instate the channel. 
  • Removal of large woody debris jams that could impact how the creek aligns in the future.
     

The Poole Creek channel realignment, that is under construction, will reduce the immediate flood risk at Gates Lake that was caused by the change in the alignment of the Place Creek channel after the July 21, 2024 glacial outburst event.  The channel size that is being cut, and the embankment that is being created using the material that is excavated from channel, will help maintain its alignment during normal flow conditions. The risk of another large flood or outburst event creating another avulsion that realigns the channel towards Gates Lake, or other parts of the alluvial fan, remains as it was prior to this event. 

The SLRD declared a State of Local Emergency (SOLE) for Electoral Area C at 8 a.m. on August 1, 2024 and it is still in place. 

Eight properties in the Gates Lake area remain under an Evacuation Alert. The SLRD has not issued an Evacuation Order and will continue to monitor current conditions and weather forecast for the area. Residents are advised to use caution in the area and avoid streambanks and water channels. There is the potential for increased sediment and stream bank instability in these areas. If you witness signs of slope instability or debris flood, please contact the SLRD at 604-894-6371 (toll-free at 1-800-298-7753), or by email at info@slrd.bc.ca

Emergency preparedness reminders:

  • Know the hazards – knowing what hazards you need to plan for is the first step 
    to being prepared.
  • Visit the FireSmartBC to learn how to make your property resilient to wildfire. The SLRD Wildfire Mitigation Team is on standby, ready to help. Book your Free FireSmart Assessment by email at firesmart@slrd.bc.ca or by phone at 604-384-7323.
  • Make an emergency plan for yourself, all members of your household and your pets.
  • Prepare your emergency supplies and build your kits:
  • Ensure you have supplies, including food, water and necessary medicines, for at least 72 hours.
  • Research insurance options and ensure your plan is up-to-date.
  • Evacuation routes: understand how you will leave the area.
  • Evacuation and recovery resources- Learn what happens in evacuations, what financial assistance you might be eligible for and other recovery resources.

Stay Informed: In an emergency, misinformation is dangerous. Get your information from official sources, and make sure you have access:

Related information about this this event:
Watch the Virtual Town Hall recording from August 8, 2024 on the SLRD’s YouTube channel. 

 

 

Applicable service
Emergency Management
Notice type(s)
Other Notice