By Laura Keil
Researchers at UNBC are collecting data on geohazards (ex. Landslides etc) in order to put together a clearer picture of what’s going on in the region.
As climate change rapidly changes our environment, we are apt to see more slides due to changing moisture levels, snowpack and erosion.
In both Valemount and McBride, slides close to town have threatened both homes and drinking water. In a mountainous landscape, this isn’t something we can simply brush off as a “side effect” of climate change. It is real and could wreak serious havoc on our lives. And unfortunately slow action on climate change on a collective level means we’ll be facing more of this in the future.
Road building and forestry can also lead to slide activity and I hope our community forests are paying closer attention to this than ever before.
The researchers are wanting observations from anyone with first-hand knowledge of the land and I encourage you to submit your observations and responses to their project. Ways to submit information can be found in the sidebar on P3 of this week’s paper.
