A glacial lake in British Columbia’s Coast Mountains has reached the same volume recorded before a major outburst flood last year, prompting emergency officials to place dozens of properties on evacuation alert.
The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District issued an Evacuation Alert for properties in the Poole Creek and Gates Lake area after hazard monitoring instruments at Place Glacier indicated the lake has reached an estimated depth of approximately 24 meters (78.74 feet). That matches conditions that preceded a glacial lake outburst flood in 2025. Officials warn that overland flooding and debris flooding remain credible threats, and residents should be prepared to leave on short notice.
Glacial lake outburst floods occur when water impounded by a glacier or glacial moraine releases suddenly, sending large volumes of water and debris downstream with little warning.
Dozens of properties along Pemberton Portage Road, Gates Creek Road, and Poole Creek Road fall within the alert boundary. The affected area sits near Pemberton, a small community roughly 160 kilometres north of Vancouver. A full list of affected addresses and maps is available at slrd.bc.ca/eoc.
An Evacuation Alert is not an order to leave, but officials caution that conditions can change rapidly and advance notice before a formal Evacuation Order may be limited. Residents and backcountry users are advised to stay away from streambanks and water channels throughout the area, where increased water flows, sediment transport, and streambank instability are all possible.
To support residents, the SLRD has established a free, 24-hour self-serve sandbagging station at Gates Lake Community Park. Residents should bring their own shovel and gloves and take only the number of bags needed to protect their property.
What Residents Should Do Now
- Pre-register for Emergency Support Services at ess.gov.bc.ca.
- Pack essentials including government-issued ID, medications, insurance documents, and items needed for dependants or pets.
- Identify a family meeting point outside the evacuation zone.
- Arrange transportation and accommodations for all household members and keep vehicle fuel tanks full.
- Prepare to assist neighbors, children, or others who may need extra time to evacuate.
- Anyone requiring transportation assistance can call the SLRD Emergency Operations Centre at 604-384-7357.
- Do not self-evacuate before an official Evacuation Order is issued, but be prepared to move quickly if one comes.
Updates will be posted at slrd.bc.ca/eoc. Residents can subscribe to the SLRD Alert Messaging service at slrd.bc.ca/slrdalert to receive notifications by email, text, or voicemail.
