Coquitlam residents and visitors are asked to use caution on and around the Fraser River as debris from the Chilcotin River landslide makes its way downstream.
COQUITLAM, B.C., August 2, 2024 – Coquitlam residents and visitors are asked to use caution on and around the Fraser River as debris from the Chilcotin River landslide makes its way downstream.
The Chilcotin River, which feeds into the Fraser River, was dammed by a significant landslide on July 31. Water is now pooling behind the debris, and provincial staff are monitoring and assessing the area. While the impact to streamflow is not expected to be of significance in Coquitlam, additional debris is a hazard to river-users.
City staff are monitoring the situation closely and advising residents to use caution on the Fraser River and to stay away from its riverbanks. Caution signage is being posted along United Boulevard and at Maquabeak Park to ensure that residents and visitors are aware of the current high stream flow advisory and potential for additional debris.
The province’s Emergency Management and Climate Readiness update on the Chilcotin River landslide response can be viewed online.
Emergency Preparedness
While the City is prepared to handle flood conditions within public spaces, residents and business owners are responsible for general preparations of their property.
Coquitlam residents and businesses in low-lying areas near the Coquitlam, Pitt and Fraser rivers are encouraged to be prepared year-round for potential flooding. However, if flooding appears likely, the City will inform affected residents and business owners of the City’s mitigation activities and steps property owners can take to reduce the impact.
Visit coquitlam.ca/flooding for details on how the City prepares for a flooding event, as well as floodplain maps, FAQs and links to other resources. For details on how you can prepare for an emergency, see our 26 Weeks to Emergency Preparedness page.
Up-to-date information is posted to the Provincial Flood Warnings and Advisories page.
Who to Contact
Below is contact information for utility providers, as well as the City of Coquitlam Engineering and Public Works.
BC Hydro Power Outages:
1-800-224-9376 (24/7) or *49736 on your mobile device
BCHydro.com/safety-outages/power-outages.html
FortisBC - Natural Gas Emergencies:
1-800-663-9911 (24/7)
FortisBC.com/Safety/EmergencyPreparedness/Pages/Floods-and-storms.aspx
City of Coquitlam, Engineering and Public Works
604-927-3500 (24/7)
epw@coquitlam.ca
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Media contact:
Kyle van Veen
Acting Director of Public Works
604-927-3500
epw@coquitlam.ca
We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (HUN-kuh-MEE-num) word kʷikʷəƛ̓ əm (kwee-KWET-lum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓ əm traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee), and other Coast Salish Peoples.