Date of Award
2006
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Program
Geography
Supervisor
Dr. Dan Shrubsole
Abstract
Canadian flood damages are thought to be increasing and this trend is unlikely to reverse. At present, increased pressure to develop, downloading of responsibility to municipal governments and an aging infrastructure has left British Columbia vulnerable to a catastrophic event. A number of authors have called for more research dedicated to understanding flood damages. This work, despite data limitations, examines the 2003 flood in the Squamish- Lillooet Regional District and aims to inform our limited understanding of floods in B.C. The work makes use of numerous data sources in order to explore a recent event, with particular emphasis on who was affected, what factors influenced damages, the role of dikes and basements and whether the 1976 implementation of land use planning influenced the damages. The work finds that further data would benefit our understanding of the event but that in the mean time provincial floodplain development continues to place people and property at risk. Furthermore, future policies and changes to the decision making process may benefit by moving beyond elevation and setback to include other factors.
Recommended Citation
Cook, Brian Robert, "Flood Damages in the Squamish-LilIooet Regional District: A Post-Audit of the 2003 Event" (2006). Digitized Theses. 5123.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/5123