Experts warn that a glacial lake near Pemberton, B.C., is on the brink of bursting, posing a flood risk to the surrounding area. Approximately 24 properties in the Poole Creek and Gates Lake region of D’Arcy and Birken have been placed under evacuation alert as the lake adjacent to Place Glacier has reached a critical depth of 24 meters, matching the level before a previous outburst in 2025.
If the water level reaches 30 meters, an evacuation order will be issued by the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District. Speaking on the issue, board chair Jen Ford emphasized the importance of preparedness, urging residents to have evacuation plans ready given the recurrence of similar events in recent years.
While no properties were damaged in the previous glacial lake outbursts in 2024 and 2025, officials are anticipating further incidents until the glacier fully recedes. Monitoring systems, including pressure sensors and cameras, have been installed to track water levels at the high-altitude lake near the glacier’s edge, where melted water collects.
According to Jeff Crompton, a research scientist, the outbursts occur gradually over several hours as the water drains beneath the glacier, flows through interconnected lakes, and eventually reaches Place Creek near Pemberton Portage Road. The timing of these events remains uncertain, with Brian Menounos, a professor at the University of Northern British Columbia, emphasizing the unpredictability of when the outbursts might occur.
Despite calls for draining the lake using explosives, the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness has decided against this approach due to potential geotechnical risks in the alpine terrain. Place Glacier’s extensive study serves as a model for understanding and predicting similar events in other glacier sites across the province.
With ongoing monitoring and research, experts aim to enhance preparedness and decision-making processes at both local and governmental levels to mitigate the impact of glacier-related hazards in the future.