Three layers of government are stumping up millions of dollars for improvements to protect the community at Lillooet Lake Estates from landslides.
According to releases from the federal government and the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD), the combined funds from the feds and province together with contributions from the SLRD will help mitigate risks posed to residents of Lillooet Lake Estates from debris flow events on Catiline Creek.
Catiline Creek has been an ongoing source of debris-flow events for the small community at Lillooet Lake Estates, which is southeast of Pemberton and Mount Currie, on the shores of Lillooet Lake. Past events have damaged parts of the community, triggered evacuation warnings, and kept the risk top-of-mind for residents who have pushed for a solution.
The project will see the creek channel enlarged to allow debris to flow more freely from Twin Goat Mountain, through the community and into the lake, with excavated material to be used to construct berms.
“The Catiline Creek debris flow mitigation project is important work that will reduce the debris flow risk for the Lillooet Lake Estates community,” said SLRD board chair Jen Ford.
“We are grateful to the provincial and federal governments for their generous contributions to this project, ensuring the work can move forward with reduced financial burden on the community.”
Confirmed funding for the project comes in at a shade under $11.7 million.
Of that, $5.7 million comes from the “green infrastructure” stream of the federal government’s Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. Another $2 million is from the province’s Community Enrichment Preparedness Fund, while according to the SLRD, the community of Lillooet Lake Estates will make up the remaining $4 million through a loan authorization bylaw adopted by the SLRD in 2023. The bylaw allowed the SLRD to borrow the funds, with the costs to be recovered through an annual tax requisition for Lillooet Lake Estates.
The SLRD will be responsible for any additional funding required.
“These funding programs are fundamental to the success of this project,” said Ford. “The cost to complete this project is significant, and these funds reduce the financial burden on this community.”
Area C director Russell Mack—who represents Lillooet Lake Estates—said the project was a long time coming.
“This community has experienced significant landslide activity and remains at risk,” he said. “The debris flow mitigation project has been a priority for the community for many years, and we’re all relieved to see the funding come through for this project.”
The project has a wide scope, with the funds to go to designing and constructing a debris flow mitigation structure along with ongoing maintenance and operation to prevent loss of life and damage to the community. The existing channel will be expanded to allow for up to 100,000 cubic metres of debris flow that can travel down the mountainside and into the lake without taking out any of the community or its associated infrastructure.
“This project is very important for the safety of our community, which has experienced a number of dangerous debris-related events over the years and is at great risk of further events,” said Gary Young, president of the Lillooet Lake Estates local association.
Federal MP for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, Patrick Weiler, said projects like this are key to adapting to climate change.
“Extreme weather, including heavy rainfall events, are becoming more common, increasing the risk of significant landslides and floods,” he said.
“We need our communities to be resilient to a rapidly changing climate. That’s why we’re working with our provincial and municipal partners to protect Lillooet Lake Estates from these risks, so that it can remain a safe place to live and raise a family.”
The project is in the detailed design phase, and is expected to begin construction late in 2024 for a late 2025/early 2026 completion schedule.
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