Rick King vividly recalls the thunderous noise of glacial waters cascading down from a nearby mountain towards his land. Describing it as a deafening roar akin to a strong gust of wind, King expresses his unease. Living among 24 properties on evacuation alert northeast of Pemberton, B.C., the residents are facing a looming threat as Place Glacier steadily melts, feeding into an expanding glacial lake that poses an imminent risk of overflowing.
For the third consecutive year, the community near Birken has been on high alert for a potential glacial lake outburst. The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) has stipulated that once the lake reaches a depth of 30 meters, an evacuation order will be issued. Despite efforts to monitor the situation closely, research scientist Jeff Crompton acknowledges the challenge in precisely forecasting the timing of the outburst.
Last year, King’s property experienced a rise in the creek-bed by approximately two feet due to sediment, trees, and rocks carried by the outburst. With the current situation, King fears the impending flood could inundate their yard, farmland, pasture, and possibly their residence. The unease is shared by King’s neighbor, Don Coggins, who anticipates a repeat of the flooding on his property.
Concerns escalate as residents anticipate a potentially worse scenario this year. The embankment at Place Creek, which was damaged last year, has been reinforced to redirect the water flow towards Poole Creek and away from Gates Lake. While this initiative aims to protect certain properties, King believes it will exacerbate the flooding on his land.
Coggins and King are advocating for proactive measures to mitigate the risk of flooding. Suggestions include dredging Poole Creek to enhance water capacity, widening culverts to facilitate debris flow, installing a barrier to evenly distribute water between Gates Lake and Poole Creek, and implementing measures to drain the glacial lake at a controlled pace.
Proposals such as using explosives to fracture the glacier for controlled drainage have been considered but are not currently funded due to concerns about potential geotechnical impacts. Frustrated by their inability to intervene in the creek, residents emphasize the urgency for actionable solutions to avert disaster. SLRD board chair Jen Ford advocates for extending financial assistance programs to communities affected by landslides, emphasizing the pressing need for proactive measures considering the rapid changes observed at Place Glacier.
The evolving situation at Place Glacier serves as a warning sign for similar events that could unfold at other glaciers. With the glacier’s accelerated melting and the imminent threat of a glacial lake outburst, residents are calling for urgent action to prevent catastrophic flooding and safeguard their homes and livelihoods.