Information checkpoints set up in Farwell Canyon since the Chilcotin River landslide on July 31, 2024 will soon be disbanded, said the Cariboo Regional District Emergency Operations Centre.
In an update Nov. 29, the Cariboo Regional District Emergency Operations Centre said community information officers from Tl’esqox and Yuneŝit’in have been stationed there since the slide. They have been present to inform people entering the area of the continued risks in the area following the initial landslide.
There is an area of high-risk for further landslides along the riverbanks near Farwell Canyon Bridge, the CRD EOC confirmed in a news release.
"A highly visible fault line on the riverbank south of Farwell Canyon Bridge is of immediate concern, and the area below it is not safe for public access. While the primary concern remains the area near Farwell Canyon bridge due to the high level of public access and the presence of Indigenous fishing sites, other areas along the Chilcotin River may also pose significant hazards to public safety."
Because of continued uncertainty about slope stability following the release of water on Aug. 5 from the landslide debris dam, the CRD said Crown lands along the riverbed and riverbanks of the Chilcotin River are subject to a Crown Land Closure issued on September 18, 2024. This area extends from south of Dante’s Inferno Park to the confluence with the Fraser River. Hazard assessments are ongoing in this area and will inform further action to ensure public safety.
Public access to this area is strictly prohibited without authorization from the Province of B.C. to access the area. This instrument remains in place until January 25, 2025, but may be extended by the provincial government. At this time, Farwell Canyon Road remains open to the public and is not subject to the Crown Land Closure.
