COMMUNITY ADVISORY March 21, 2016 SLRD ENGAGED IN RESPONSE PLANNING FOR ELEVATED FLOOD RISK ON ANDERSON LAKE DUE TO SPRING FRESHET Pemberton, BC – The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) Emergency Program is working with experts at BC Water Stewardship and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to develop a plan to respond if water levels increase during the annual freshet (spring snow melt) and threaten flooding in communities around Anderson Lake. The response plan will seek to minimize impacts to the environment while ensuring that lives and property around the lake are protected from flooding. Depending on weather patterns, freshet in the Anderson Lake watershed generally occurs from late spring into early summer. Historically, an increase in water levels around the lake of between one and two metres is expected during the annual freshet and normally, Anderson Lake is able to absorb the run-off without concern. This year, the risk of flooding for the communities around the lake (Seton Portage, D’Arcy, Tsal’alh, and N’Quatqua) is elevated due to ongoing high water in Anderson Lake caused by a debris flow event last September in Seton Portage. On September 20, 2015, massive rain events on the heels of an extremely dry and combustible summer, saw the SLRD and other agencies responding to multiple concurrent emergencies across the region. The community of Seton Portage was severely impacted by a debris flow that blocked the Seton River, impeding drainage from Anderson Lake. A state of local emergency (as well as several evacuation orders and alerts) was issued. The Seton Lake Indian Band (Tsal’ah) and community of Shalalth were also impacted. As the SLRD, Tsal’alh, and other agencies were mobilizing the response to the September 20 debris flow event, the water levels in Anderson Lake rose by approximately one metre. As part of the subsequent on-the-ground emergency response, the SLRD worked closely with Emergency Management BC to re-open the Seton River channel and allow water to begin draining from Anderson Lake. This action relieved the immediate threat of flooding in Seton Portage. However, it did not restore the pre-event capacity of the Seton River. In December 2015, the SLRD was made aware that water levels in Anderson Lake remained elevated by approximately one metre. The SLRD began engaging with the Province to find a solution to the issue. That engagement is ongoing. The SLRD Emergency Program Manager has communicated with local community contacts in the area, the communities of Tsal’alh and N’Quatqua as well as area stakeholders to advise of the freshet hazard. The SLRD will continue to provide updates as the response plan is developed or as conditions change. Residents are encouraged to sign up for the SLRD’s emergency notification service, SLRD Alert, in order to receive important news and updates directly from the SLRD via telephone, text (SMS) or email. Register or learn more at www.slrd.bc.ca/SLRDAlert. SLRD residents and businesses on Twitter are also encouraged to follow the SLRD’s two twitter feeds: @SLRD_BC and @SLRD_Emergency. Residents with questions or concerns should contact Ryan Wainwright, SLRD Emergency Program Manager at 604-698-6442 or [email protected]. For more information, please contact: Ryan Wainwright SLRD Emergency Program Manager Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Telephone: (604) 698-6442 Email: [email protected] Jeannette Nadon Communications & Grants Coordinator Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Telephone: (604) 894-6371 ext. 239 Email: [email protected] .