Issued: September 12, 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 on September 13, 2024, streamflow from Place Creek will begin to flow back into its original alignment and drain into Poole Creek instead of Gates Lake.
Work to restore the channel and flow direction began on Monday, August 26 with equipment working alongside engineers to execute the realignment. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Lil’wat Nation contributed their expertise to developing this creek realignment plan. The SLRD also contracted Qualified Environmental Professionals to ensure all work was performed within the parameters of the appropriate environmental legislation. Work included excavating a channel through deposited debris flood materials and re-establishing the embankment using materials excavated from the channel. Large woody debris jams deposited by the debris flood along this alignment have been removed.
On Friday, September 13, at 7 a.m. Place Creek streamflow will be re-introduced into the excavated channel. It is anticipated flows will be slowly ramped up in a controlled manner from 7 a.m. to noon.
Caution should be taken when approaching the banks of Poole Creek, and the excavated channel, and the re-established embankment, as they may be susceptible to erosion or sloughing. Place Creek is anticipated to be silty and turbid as flow is re-introduced. Work will continue into next week to re-establish the pre-debris flood embankment.
The SLRD declared a State of Local Emergency (SOLE) for Electoral Area C at 8 a.m. on August 1, 2024. This SOLE will continue until the creek realignment work is complete.
The SLRD has not issued an Evacuation Order, and the overall hazard risk assessment for the Gates Lake area has not changed. Eight properties in the Gates Lake area remain under an Evacuation Alert. The SLRD 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:
- Emergency notifications – sign up for your community’s emergency alert notification system and download the free Alertable app to receive emergency alerts from the Province of B.C.
- Provincial emergency information: Follow Emergency Info BC
- Road conditions: Follow DriveBC
- Wildfire updates: Follow BC Wildfire Service and download the BC Wildfire Service app
- Flood-related advisories: Visit the BC River Forecast Centre
Related information about this this event:
Watch the Virtual Town Hall recording from August 8, 2024 on the SLRD’s YouTube channel.