Over 132,000 seedlings were planted on the Líl̓wat Nation’s traditional territory

Mount Currie, B.C.: Líl̓wat Forestry Ventures (LFV) has successfully completed the second phase of the Q̓welq̓welústen/Mount Meager Landslide Restoration Project, which aims to address the long-term impacts of the 2010 landslide within Líl̓wat Nation’s traditional territory.

The first phase focused on slowing sediment build up to reduce the risk of flooding on reserve lands, while also creating conditions that support vegetation growth and wildlife habitat. This year, with funding from the Government of Canada through the Forest Investment Program, LFV partnered with Chartwell Resource Group Ltd. (Chartwell) to begin replanting efforts in the Meager area.

“After the Meager landslide, there was a lot of debris in the Lillooet River that runs through the Pemberton Valley. The idea behind this replanting was to help accelerate reforestation in those areas,” explained Levi Robson, Forestry Technician with LFV. “Having these trees here is also going to help stabilize the banks and contribute to healthier riparian habitat for creatures in that stream.”

Between April 15-21, 2025, over 132,000 seedlings were planted around the landslide-affected areas. Species included Cottonwood, Alder, Western Larch, Cedar, and Douglas Fir. The planting was carried out by Robin Bellavance of Peek-a-Boo Services, who was subcontracted by Chartwell.

“Robin and his crew of tree planters have extensive experience planting sites on the coast of B.C.,” noted Codie Johnston, Registered Forest Technologist and Silviculture Project Manager at Chartwell. “They did a great job of getting the seedlings into the ground in a timely manner with excellent quality.”

Before planting began, LFV and Chartwell teams spent several months assessing the areas impacted by the landslide to determine where replanting would be most effective. Many areas were either barren or already populated with trees, so it was crucial to find the right plots that would support healthy vegetation growth.

“The valley bottom acts like an oven because the sun hits it directly and there are only a few trees that provide shade. It gets very hot, so we had to plant strategically around natural features,” explained Robson. “Essentially, the idea was to plant on the northeastern side of the obstacles so the seedlings wouldn’t be exposed to the full intensity of the sun.”

Additionally, another major consideration was whether the ground could actually support planting, as some sites were flood prone or had unplantable substrates.

“We had to get into the field and test the soil ourselves,” added Robson. “We asked: Can we even get a shovel in the ground here, or is it just a compacted cobble layer? We did test a few plots to figure that out.”

For the sites that were suitable for planting, the teams developed a prescription, taking into consideration the species already present and the number of stems per hectare.

“We also determined how we wanted the planters to plant the site, using obstacles and what species to plant where. With approval from the Ministry of Forests, we were able to obtain a variance to plant Western Larch as a trial in the restoration areas. We chose this species as it is more drought resistant than Douglas Fir and has been identified as a species for assisted migration in previous studies,” noted Johnston.

The final step was administering the planting contract, assuring planting quality was met. Over time, the teams expect these activities to help reduce erosion and sedimentation into the Lillooet River, further expediting the recovery of the affected areas.

“This project is important to the Líl̓wat Nation and community members of Pemberton, as it will reduce sediments building up at the head of Lillooet Lake and other areas along the river that are being dredged out annually to ensure the dikes continue to be effective,” explained Johnston. “Restoration planting will also increase species diversity in the river valley and provide more habitat for mammal, birds, and amphibians through creating foraging opportunities, nesting habitat, thermal cover and places to hide from predators.”

Through this thoughtful work, LFV continues to demonstrate how forest management can support land restoration, always grounded in the values of the Líl̓wat Nation.

For additional information on the project or an interview with Líl̓wat Forestry Ventures, contact:

Valeria Molina, Communications Liaison, valeria@amplifyinc.ca | 250.879.3006