← Flood protection · All issues

What is being done to protect Squamish from floods and debris flows?

Much of Squamish sits on a floodplain, so the District keeps raising dikes under its flood hazard plan, often with grants and some borrowing. A new $18 million sea dike at Xwu'nekw Park protects downtown, and a Squamish River dike was raised at Judd Slough. The District has also become responsible for the Cheekeye debris flow barrier north of Brackendale, whose upkeep is now in the tax plan.

📍 Downtown📍 Brackendale📍 Garibaldi Estates📍 North Squamish

Where it stands step 4 of 5

  1. Integrated Flood Hazard Management Plan October 17, 2017
    Council adopted the plan that sets which dikes to upgrade first. [source]
  2. Downtown sea dike at Xwu'nekw Park March 1, 2026
    All piling, including the sheet pile wall, was complete by March 2026; the District planned to finish in summer 2026. [source]
  3. 2026 flood upgrade borrowing given three readings June 16, 2026
    Loan Authorization Bylaw 3251 for annual flood upgrades. [source]
  4. Elector approval for borrowing
    The District usually seeks approval for borrowing through an Alternative Approval Process. [source]
  5. Bylaw adopted and next dike projects [source]

What happens next: The new council is expected to adopt the 2026 flood upgrade borrowing once approval is complete, and fund the next dike projects and Cheekeye barrier upkeep in the 2027 budget.

How this council has voted on it

The new council hasn’t voted on this yet. Every vote on it will appear here.

What each of them said during the campaign

“The District should increase spending on dikes and flood protection, even if it means higher taxes.”

Earlier history (before this council)
  • June 16, 2026: Council gave three readings to borrowing bylaws for annual flood protection upgrades. [source]
  • April 7, 2026: Council adopted a $2 million flood protection loan bylaw after an Alternative Approval Process, and carried $3.4 million left from the Judd Slough dike project forward to more dike work. [source]
  • October 7, 2025: Council set Cheekeye barrier costs at half local area tax and half general tax in the financial plan. (Councillor Hamilton opposed) [source]
  • September 16, 2025: Council adopted a new Floodplain Management Bylaw. [source]
  • October 15, 2024: Council adopted the borrowing bylaw for the Xwu'nekw Park sea dike. [source]
  • July 15, 2024: Council accepted responsibility as the local diking authority for the Cheekeye debris flow barrier. [source]

Have your say

The swearing in meeting is ceremonial. There is no question period and no letters on the agenda. To raise something with the new council, write to council@squamish.ca after November 3. Letters sent before then go to the outgoing council.

Watch. Live and afterward on the District’s YouTube channel.