Geomorphic Transformations: Landslide in British Columbia Ushers In Unexpected New Lake

On July 30, 2024, a significant landslide occurred in Farwell Canyon, British Columbia, resulting in a massive earth deposit that blocked the Chilcotin River and created a new lake.

The debris prompted immediate flood warnings and evacuation orders for downstream areas. By August 5, water levels rose, challenging the stability of the dam formed by the landslide. This event has potential long-term impacts on the local environment and the culturally significant Tšilhqot‘in territory, particularly affecting endangered salmon populations.

Catastrophic Landslide in Farwell Canyon
Late on July 30, 2024, land along the south bank of the Chilcotin River in Farwell Canyon began to sink and flow into the valley below. When the landslide stopped moving, a large piece of earth had dropped more than 50 meters (160 feet), leaving a mound of debris 1,000 meters long, 600 meters wide, and 30 meters deep that blocked the river and completely halted its flow.

When the OLI-2 (Operational Land Imager-2) on Landsat 9 captured this image (above) on August 1, 2024, water had begun to pool behind the landslide deposit, creating a long, narrow lake. The next image (below) shows the same area on July 16, about two weeks before the landslide.