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Wiseman Creek Landslide Risk
What is the risk?
BGC Engineering contacted the Shuswap Emergency Program (SEP) on October 14, 2021 while they were doing work in the area of the Two Mile Fire near Sicamous and Swansea Point. They were concerned with the potential for debris flow in the Wiseman, Sicamous, and Hummingbird Creek drainages.
SEP applied for funding from Emergency Management BC (EMBC) to assess the hazard and risk in the area. BGC Engineering was engaged to do the hazard and risk assessment. On November 23, 2021, BGC presented their findings to the emergency program:
• The Sicamous Creek Mobile Home Park at the mouth of Wiseman Creek is subject to post-wildfire debris flows.
• It is highly likely that such debris flow (landslide) will occur in the next two years.
• Particularly large (rare) debris flows could be life threatening and destroy property. There is a possibility of a worst-case scenario which will result in large debris flow, highly destructive destroying mobile homes with loss of life.
• Stakeholders are confronted with examining the process and responsibilities for managing risk to life, infrastructure, property and the environment.
• Sicamous and Hummingbird Creek hazard assessments are proceeding as planned. Sicamous Creek hazards have increased somewhat due to fire, Hummingbird Creek is largely unaffected.
What is being done?
The risks posed by a post-wildfire landslide are considerable and will require an extended response. This page will provide information updates on the situation and record information related to the Shuswap Emergency Program response.
On December 13, 2021, the District of Sicamous and Shuswap Emergency Program hosted a Community Meeting at the Red Barn Arts Centre to discuss post-wildfire landslide risks in the Two Mile area.
Matthias Jakob, Principal Geoscientist with BGC Engineering, provided a presentation to attendees who participated both in person and online. Along with Jakob, the meeting panelists included Engineering Geologist Hazel Wong, District of Sicamous Fire Chief Brett Ogino and Derek Sutherland with the Shuswap Emergency Program.
The presentation was based on a Debris Flow Assessment developed by BGC Engineering.
A report regarding the risk of a Debris Flow in the Wiseman Creek watershed in Sicamous is now available on the District of Sicamous and the Shuswap Emergency Program webpages.
The Wiseman Creek Mitigation Options Analysis was prepared by BGC Engineering after a hazard assessment determined the area is subject to a high risk of a debris flow due to the conditions created by the past summer’s Two Mile wildfire.
This is of particular concern for the residents of the Sicamous Creek Mobile Home Park, which is located on the Wiseman Creek fan and would likely be in the path of any debris flow. Risks of the debris flow increase with snowmelt and spring rain.
Staff from the District of Sicamous and the Shuswap Emergency Program met with residents of the mobile home park on Thursday, February 10, 2022, to review the report and provide emergency preparedness information.
The Shuswap Emergency Program, which is contracted to provide emergency service to the District of Sicamous, is in communications with Emergency Management BC regarding the feasibility of the options outlined in the report and the next course of action.
Funding has been secured from the Province of BC to develop an Early Warning System that will assist in alerting residents in the Wiseman Creek area of the District of Sicamous to potential threats from post-wildfire landslides.
A study by the geotechnical engineering firm BGC Engineering determined that damage caused to the landscape from the summer’s Two Mile Road wildfire has made the slopes above the Sicamous Creek Mobile Home Park unstable and at risk of a debris flood, and possibly a debris flow.
While both types of landslides can cause damage, a debris flow is more serious because it contains more soil and debris, which can travel farther and faster, and with more impact to whatever is in its path.
The engineering firm conducted a series of reports regarding these risk factors for the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) and concluded the chance of a landslide taking place in the area sometime over the next two years is close to 100 per cent. As such, there is a significant risk to both life and property.
It was recommended this Early Warning System be put in place before spring melt and rainfall increase the risks. The system is designed to use weather forecasting data to determine whether an evacuation alert or order would be issued for residents in the area.
The warning system needs to be based on forecasted weather data because, once rain has begun to fall, it is already too late to notify residents of the risk and have them safely evacuate.
The cost of the Early Warning System is estimated at $30,000. Now that the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development has agreed to fund the warning system, work on its development and implementation has already begun.
The system will be operational by the beginning of April.
A community meeting has been planned for Thursday, March 31 to keep residents informed of the soon-to-be-implemented Early Warning System to reduce the risk to residents from post-wildfire landslides in the Wiseman Creek area.
For those who may have missed the meeting, you can watch the Zoom recording.
Thursday, May 5, 2022 - 10:00 Hours
An Evacuation Alert has been issued by the District of Sicamous at the Shuswap Emergency Program’s Emergency Operations Centre. The threat of a landslide near Wiseman Creek in the District of Sicamous is increasing and may pose a risk. Due to the potential danger to life, health or property, an Evacuation Alert is in effect for the following areas:
Sicamous Creek Mobile Home Park
All residences # 1 through #27 - 5 Highway 97A
Please see the attached map of the Evacuation Alert Area below.
An Evacuation Alert is a warning about a potential threat to life and/or property. It is intended to give you time to be ready for a possible evacuation. Residents will be given as much advance notice as possible prior to evacuation, however, you may receive limited notice due to changing conditions.
WHAT YOU SHOULD YOU DO WHEN AN ALERT IS IN EFFECT
Upon notification of an ALERT:
- Locate your grab-and-go bags for you and your family. Gather essential items such as medications, eyeglasses, valuable papers, immediate care needs for dependents. Replenish any items that have expired or need replacement, ensure you and your family members have enough clothing and incidentals for a 72-hour period and have these items readily available for quick departure. See www.preparedbc.ca for details.
- Contact family members, advise them of the situation and determine a meeting location outside of the evacuation area where you can safely reconnect should the area be evacuated.
- Accommodation in the area can be limited. Arrange to stay with family or friends, if possible.
- Take care of your pets or any other animals by moving them to a safe location. Make plans for their care if you will not be at home.
- Arrange transportation for all household members. Prepare to move any disabled persons and/or children. Fill the gas tanks of personal vehicles.
- Regularly monitor the Shuswap Emergency Program’s (SEP) webpage at www.shuswapemergency.ca the District of Sicamous website, www.sicamous.ca, the Shuswap Emergency Program on Facebook and Twitter, the CSRD's Facebook, Twitter platforms or local news sources for up-to-date and accurate information. Or sign up for Alertable, our new emergency mass notification system, at www.csrd.bc.ca/alertable
Update: Monday, May 9 - 10:00 Hours
The Evacuation Alert issued by the District of Sicamous through the Shuswap Emergency Program due to the potential danger to life, health and property caused by the threat of a landslide in the Wiseman Creek area of the District of Sicamous is hereby lifted effective Monday, May 9, 2022 at 10:00 Hours.
All properties in the Evacuation Alert area are now ALL CLEAR.
The area downgraded to ALL CLEAR status is:
Sicamous Creek Mobile Home Park
All residences # 1 through #27 - 5 Highway 97A
Due to the ongoing landslide risk in this area, residents are advised to stay informed.
Regularly monitor the Shuswap Emergency Program’s (SEP) webpage at www.shuswapemergency.ca, the District of Sicamous website, www.sicamous.ca, the Shuswap Emergency Program on Facebook and Twitter, and the District of Sicamous’ Facebook, Twitter and Instagram platforms. Or sign up for Alertable, the region’s emergency mass notification system, at www.csrd.bc.ca/alertable
An Evacuation Alert has been issued by the District of Sicamous at the Shuswap Emergency Program’s Emergency Operations Centre. The threat of a landslide near Wiseman Creek in the District of Sicamous is increasing due to forecasted rainfall and may pose a risk. Due to the potential danger to life, health or property, an Evacuation Alert is in effect for the following areas:
Sicamous Creek Mobile Home Park
All residences # 1 through #27 - 5 Highway 97A
An Evacuation Alert is a warning about a potential threat to life and/or property. It is intended to give you time to be ready for a possible evacuation. Residents will be given as much advance notice as possible prior to evacuation, however, you may receive limited notice due to changing conditions.
Please see the attached map of the Evacuation Alert Area:
WHAT YOU SHOULD YOU DO WHEN AN ALERT IS IN EFFECT
Upon notification of an ALERT:
- Locate your grab-and-go bags for you and your family. Gather essential items such as medications, eyeglasses, valuable papers, immediate care needs for dependents. Replenish any items that have expired or need replacement, ensure you and your family members have enough clothing and incidentals for a 72-hour period and have these items readily available for quick departure. See www.preparedbc.ca for details.
- Contact family members, advise them of the situation and determine a meeting location outside of the evacuation area where you can safely reconnect should the area be evacuated.
- Accommodation in the area can be limited. Arrange to stay with family or friends, if possible.
- Take care of your pets or any other animals by moving them to a safe location. Make plans for their care if you will not be at home.
- Arrange transportation for all household members. Prepare to move any disabled persons and/or children. Fill the gas tanks of personal vehicles.
- Regularly monitor the Shuswap Emergency Program’s (SEP) webpage at www.shuswapemergency.ca
- the District of Sicamous website, www.sicamous.ca, the Shuswap Emergency Program on Facebook and Twitter, the CSRD's Facebook, Twitter platforms or local news sources for up-to-date and accurate information. Or sign up for Alertable, our new emergency mass notification system, at www.csrd.bc.ca/alertable
The Evacuation Alert issued June 3, 2022 by the District of Sicamous through the Shuswap Emergency Program due to the potential danger to life, health and property caused by the threat of a landslide in the Wiseman Creek area of the District of Sicamous is hereby rescinded effective Monday, June 6, 2022 at 09:30 Hours.
All properties in the Evacuation Alert area are now ALL CLEAR.
The area downgraded to ALL CLEAR status is:
Sicamous Creek Mobile Home Park
All residences # 1 through #27 - 5 Highway 97A
Due to the ongoing landslide risk in this area, residents are advised to stay informed.
An Evacuation Alert has been issued by the District of Sicamous at the Shuswap Emergency Program’s Emergency Operations Centre. The threat of a landslide near Wiseman Creek in the District of Sicamous is increasing due to forecasted rainfall. Due to the potential danger to life, health or property, an Evacuation Alert is in effect for the following areas:
Sicamous Creek Mobile Home Park
All residences # 1 through #27 - 5 Highway 97A
An Evacuation Alert is a warning about a potential threat to life and/or property. It is intended to give you time to be ready for a possible evacuation. Residents will be given as much advance notice as possible prior to an evacuation, however, you may receive limited notice due to changing conditions.
The Evacuation Alert issued June 13, 2022 by the District of Sicamous through the Shuswap Emergency Program due to the potential danger to life, health and property caused by the threat of a landslide in the Wiseman Creek area is hereby rescinded effective Thursday, June 23, 2022 at 12:30 Hours.
All properties in the Evacuation Alert area are now ALL CLEAR.
The area downgraded to ALL CLEAR status is:
Sicamous Creek Mobile Home Park
All residences # 1 through #27 - 5 Highway 97A
Due to the ongoing landslide risk in this area, residents are advised to stay informed.
An Evacuation Alert has been issued by the District of Sicamous at the Shuswap Emergency Program’s Emergency Operations Centre on July 3, 2022 at 15:00 Hours. The threat of a landslide near Wiseman Creek in the District of Sicamous is increasing due to predicted thunderstorms in the area. Due to the potential danger to life, health or property, an Evacuation Alert is in effect for the following areas:
Sicamous Creek Mobile Home Park
All residences # 1 through #27 - 5 Highway 97A
An Evacuation Alert is a warning about a potential threat to life and/or property. It is intended to give you time to be ready for a possible evacuation. Residents will be given as much advance notice as possible prior to an evacuation, however, you may receive limited notice due to changing conditions.