Rock fall activity a concern in Mount Currie

Rock fall activity in Mount Currie has become more of a concern for local authorities and agencies.

The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources Operations (MFLNRO) and Emergency Management BC (EMBC) presented a report to local officials this week on the concern of increased rock fall activity on Mount Currie.

Officials from the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, Village of Pemberton and Líl’wat Nation have now requested funding from the Province to move forward immediately on the report’s recommendation to secure a more detailed geo-technical analysis of the hazard, evaluate the risk and recommend potential risk reduction options.

Rock fall reported in early September had a volume of approximately 10,000 – 15,000 m³, with subsequent activity in the intervening weeks generating an additional 20,000 – 30,000 m³. The document compiled by MFLNRO and EMBC states that “although rock falls of the recent size do not pose a risk to valley residents, the exposure of larger volumes of unsupported bedrock potentially could result in rock fall events that do pose risk to valley residents.”

Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman says nothing has changed with rock fall activity itself since September; “Nothing has changed dramatically in the last little bit. It’s new information that’s come to us, so in that sense we want to start getting further analysis done as soon as we can. That’s sort of the sense of urgency right now, to just get the wheels in motion and get some geologists and engineering reports to better understand what the risk is and what preventative measures could possibly be done about it…”

A response regarding the potential for funding is expected as early as next week.

Photo Credit: Oimee / flickr.com