UPDATE: Further assessment on Wednesday confirmed that there is no imminent risk to public safety. Stantec has been contracted to conduct a fulsome assessment of the new water channels, drinking water and future flood risk, and to identify potential next steps for possible remediation. This process is expected to take a number of weeks.It involves geohazard, hydrological and hydrotechnical assessments.Communications Coordinator for Squamish Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) told Pique that they will know more after receiving the Stantec report. "We will update the community when more information becomes available," she said.__
Residents in the Poole Creek area past Pemberton were struck by sudden flooding earlier this week.
On Sunday, July 21, a “sudden and high volume of water” flowed from Place Glacier and into Poole Creek. It caused flooding at the valley bottom and “significant diversion of existing creeks and streams," according to the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD). Photos posted in a community forum show the serious flooding that left locals with more questions than answers.
In a Facebook post, the SLRD explained it still has to figure out what triggered the flooding. “The exact cause of this event is unknown, but it is presumed to be related to warm weather and rapidly melting glacier ice.”
Community members are advised to stay away from new water channels, dislodged boulders and debris. The SLRD warned people to be particularly careful when it’s raining. New hazards can always crop up in the area.
The SLRD advised locals who pull drinking water from creeks and streams to find an alternative for the next few days.
“It is currently unknown whether new water channels have diverted water away from existing sources of drinking water,” it said.
Residents alerted the SLRD to the issue on Monday, July 22. The SLRD, the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness and the Ministry of Forests engaged the services of the Pemberton Valley Dyking District (PVDD). PVDD conducted aerial and ground assessments of the area on Monday and Tuesday of this week.
Technical specialists are now working to assess the situation and associated risks to ensure public safety. On Tuesday, July 24 Stantec Engineering, Cascade Environmental and Active Excavations Contracting removed the debris that was blocking the water flow through the creek. The bridge was badly damaged and was also removed. Flow was reinstated into the main creek bed as a result of these works.
The SLRD said it will provide the community with a further update once the area has been surveyed and a full risk assessment completed.
“We thank the community for their patience,” it said.
Community members want to see the situation rectified as quickly as possible."It is important that the river is redirected towards its original path,"said Charles Verreault. "Not only for the the water use But mainly four, the fish in habitat that used that water for resource. The salmon come up and lay their eggs in the fall every year. It is a very important due to potential impact on salmon pollution."
