Geological experts are keeping a close eye on the possibility that last week's massive rock slide near Pemberton, B.C., could lead to future flooding.
When the Capricorn Glacier gave way on Friday, sending 40 million cubic metres of rock, ice, trees and mud tumbling, the debris created a natural dam blocking Meager Creek and the Lillooet River.
Geologists worried that the dam would burst and flood the river valley, which is why an evacuation order was issued for hundreds of residents.
The order was lifted on Saturday, but University of B.C. geological engineer Erik Eberhardt says there could still be lingering effects.
"What you are worried about then is all this added material and sediment. It can add to clogging of the river system and impedes the natural drainage pattern," he told CTV News.
Although the flooding would likely be minor compared to what would have happened if the rock-slide dam had burst on Saturday, it still poses a threat to people who live within 60 kilometres of the Lillooet River.
"In the next couple of years, if there is lots of snow, and therefore large volumes of snow melting, there's large volumes of water, there may be an issue about how that drainage system handles that large volume of water," Eberhardt said.
B.C. Environment Minister Barry Penner drove up to the slide site on Monday to get a first-hand look at the damage, and he told CTV News that he will be looking into the environmental impacts.
"I will be talking to ministry of environment staff about what the sediment levels could mean for fish that are in the process of coming up to spawn -- not just on Meager Creek or the Lillooet River but downstream," he said.
Since Friday's slide, there have been several smaller slides in the area, and officials are asking people to stay clear of neighbouring slopes because of stability concerns.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Leah Hendry
