Order has been restored at Poole Creek northeast of Pemberton after intense flooding and unstable debris wreaked havoc on nearby residents earlier this summer. However, a State of Local Emergency is still in place until creek realignment work is completed.
The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) announced this week that on Sept. 13, streamflow from Place Creek began to flow back into its original alignment and drain into Poole Creek instead of Gates Lake. Its efforts were aided by the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.
On Sunday, July 21, a “sudden and high volume of water” flowed from Place Glacier and into Poole Creek. It deposited large amounts of silt and sand within the Place Creek and Poole Creek channels. A Glacier Lake outburst initiated a debris flood event down Place Creek. The debris flood resulted in the realignment of Place Creek into Gates Lake rather than Poole Creek.
The SLRD declared a State of Local Emergency for Electoral Area C on Aug. 1, 2024. Eight properties in the Gates Lake area remain under an Evacuation Alert since July. The SLRD said the overall hazard risk assessment area has not changed.
Work to restore the channel and flow direction began on Monday, Aug. 26. Engineers and equipment were on site to execute the realignment.
“The Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Lil’wat Nation contributed their expertise to developing this creek realignment plan,” said the SLRD. “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.”
The SLRD had previously warned people to use “extreme caution” near flood debris in the area. Locals stressed their concerns that a child or a family pet could be swept away. Evelyn Coggins warned neighbours to closely supervise their children and pets in a post on a local Facebook forum.
“The flood silt in the creek looks like sand but is bottomless and unstable,” she said. “Children and animals/pets need to be closely supervised as there is the potential for loss of life in that muck.”
Place Creek streamflow was re-introduced at 7 a.m. on Sept. 13 into the excavated channel. The SLRD said caution should be taken when approaching the banks of Poole Creek, the excavated channel and the re-established embankment.
“They may be susceptible to erosion or sloughing,” said the SLRD. “Place Creek is anticipated to be silty and turbid as flow is re-introduced.”
Crews are still working this week on re-establishing the pre-debris flood embankment.
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