Landslide Idenfication

Records of past landslide activity provide critical information needed to assess the likelihood and impact of future events affecting Fraser salmon. In particular, the timing, size, location, and rock type involved in these events are key factors for understanding how landslides have affected the morphology of the Fraser and its salmon populations. Although landslides along the Fraser are likely common, there has been minimal systematic research on the spatial and temporal extent of landslides in the region.

Current work

Using high resolution topographic data, collected by the Hakai Institute's Airborne Coastal Observatory, and published studies, we have assembled an inventory of over 500 landslides or landslide features in the Fraser Canyon. From this inventory, we have identified 30 landslides that likely impacted upstream salmon migration and are currently collecting samples for surface exposure dating.