Climatologists predict that future winters will be wetter and stormier in coastal British Columbia. If so, we can expect more floods.

1991 flood, Britannia Beach (B.C. Environment, Lands and Parks)

Wetter winters mean less stable slopes and more landslides. Of greatest concern are 'debris flows' - watery slurries of mud, gravel, and boulders that travel at high speeds down steep mountain stream courses during heavy rains. Damaging debris flows will become more common if our climate gets wetter.

Origins of a debris flow (Source: Turner et al., 1996)

Killer debris flow

A debris flow swept through the village of Lions Bay in February 1983, killing two people.

(Vancouver Sun)

Did you know?
In 1948, the Fraser River overflowed protective dykes in the Fraser Valley and flooded parts of Mission, Matsqui, and Chilliwack. Sixteen thousand people were forced out of their homes by the floodwaters, and total losses amounted to about $200 million (in 1999 dollars).

Is your community safe from floods?

What has been done to protect residents of Lions Bay and travellers along the Sea-to-Sky Highway from debris flows?

References

Turner, R.J.W., Clague, J.J., and Groulx, B. J., 1996: Geoscape Vancouver, living with our geological landscape; Geological Survay of Canada, Open File 3309, 1 sheet.