Parks Canada
Lake Louise, Alberta
Ice and Cold Regions Engineering
Parks Canada
Lake Louise, Alberta
Ice and Cold Regions Engineering
In December 2016, ice jamming occurred on the Pipestone and Bow rivers near Lake Louise, Alberta. Parks Canada asked us to assess the event and evaluate the potential for future ice jam flooding. NHC conducted a ground and aerial reconnaissance to help understand the sequence of events leading up to the formation of the ice jams and their subsequent release, which caused flooding, damage to pedestrian bridges, and threatened guest cabins. NHC also examined local accounts and ground observations taken during the events, post-event ground and aerial reconnaissance, and observed hydrometeorological data. Our assessment indicated that the event was relatively rare and that the risk of future damage was low.