Cheekye Fan
The Cheekye Fan is an alluvial fan, a formation found in mountainous regions where deposits of alluvial sedimentation and material from debris flows and debris floods accrue over time. Natural hazards common to this type of fan include stream floods, deposition of sediment, erosion of new channels, avulsions (a sudden shift in the channel of a stream or river) and debris floods and debris flows. The Cheekeye Fan is divided into 6 hazard zones with associated policy outlined in section 25 of the District of Squamish Official Community Plan. (View OCP Hazard Policies).
The Intergovernmental Cooperation Accord between the Squamish Nation and the District of Squamish included agreement that the Squamish Nation may apply, with or without a development partner, to the Province for ownership of approximately 200 acres of the Cheekye Fan lands and for development approval of the land for single family residential housing and commercial development. As per OCP policy, any development will require hazard mitigation.
In 2013, the District of Squamish, the Province, and the Squamish Nation each appointed a member of an Expert Review Panel to review past studies, including the most recent by BGC, and provide an independent opinion on potential debris hazard volume, frequency and possible climate change impacts.
Resources and Reports
Cheekeye Fan Expert Panel Final Report (June 6, 2015)
Interim Development strategies on the Cheekeye Fan
Assessment of Mitigation Alternatives for Cheekeye Fan
Based on Expert Panel guidance that current risk on the Cheekeye Fan is unacceptable and that risk should be mitigated, the District undertook an assessment of mitigation options. Information and findings are contained in the following documents:
Background Reports
- KWL preliminary design report for Cheekye Fan deflection berms (June 2003)
- Thurber & Golder Cheekeye River terrain hazard and land use study (Volume 1 March 1993)
- Thurber & Golder Cheekeye River terrain hazard and land use study (Volume 2 March 1993)
- BGC Cheekeye River Debris Flow Frequency and Magnitude (2008)
- BGC Debris Flow Risk (October 21, 2008)
- BGC Debris Flow Simulation (December 14, 2007)
Final Panel Report
Presentations to Council (July 15, 2014)
- Cheekye River Fan Geohazards, risks and residential development
- Cheekye Panel Report (John Clague, P. Geo)
- Staff report to Council
OCP Policy
- OCP Hazard Policies
- Flood and debris flow hazard areas map (see Schedule D-1).
