Rick King vividly recalls the thunderous noise of icy water cascading down from a nearby mountain towards his land. “It’s a deafening roar resembling a strong gust of wind,” King described, admitting it’s unsettling. He resides among 24 properties on high alert for evacuation in the northeast of Pemberton, B.C., due to the ongoing melting of Place Glacier into an expanding glacial lake that threatens to overflow or burst imminently.
For the third consecutive year, the community near Birken has been on edge anticipating the glacial lake outburst. The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) stated that once the lake depth reaches 30 meters, a mandatory evacuation order will be issued. Research scientist Jeff Crompton emphasized the challenge in accurately predicting the exact timing of the event, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the potential drainage.
Tragedy struck last year when the creek adjacent to King’s property surged by approximately two feet, carrying sediment, trees, and rocks during the outburst. King expressed deep concern, stating, “If it bursts now, there’s absolutely no room for the water, flooding our yard, farmland, pasture, and possibly our house.” His neighbor, Don Coggins, shares the apprehension of facing another flood episode, fearing this year’s impact might surpass previous occurrences.
In response to the heightened risk, measures were taken to reinforce the embankment at Place Creek, redirecting the flow away from Gates Lake and Poole Creek. While this safeguarded some properties, it raised fears for others like King’s, who anticipated being severely affected by any potential overflow towards his land.
Both Coggins and King advocate for proactive steps to prevent flooding, urging for dredging of Poole Creek, widening of culverts to facilitate debris flow, installation of barriers to evenly divide water between Gates Lake and Poole Creek, and draining the glacial lake at a steady pace to mitigate the risk effectively. The proposal of using explosives to fracture the glacier and facilitate controlled drainage was considered but dismissed due to concerns over unforeseen geotechnical impacts in the high alpine terrain.
As the community grapples with restricted actions amidst the looming threat, calls are made for inclusion in the provincial Disaster Financial Assistance Program for those impacted by landslides. SLRD board chair Jen Ford stressed the urgency of addressing the evolving situation at Place Glacier as a precursor to potential similar events at other glacier sites, underscoring the need for proactive measures to avert future disasters.