The Big Story More than rain: why flooding is getting worse in BC
Jan 7, 2026
In this insightful discussion, Dr. Younes Alila, a forest hydrology expert from UBC, unpacks the escalating flood crisis in British Columbia. He highlights that climate change isn't the sole culprit, with land use practices like clear-cut logging significantly exacerbating flood risks. Alila explains how clear-cutting accelerates runoff and encourages a shift to more sustainable logging methods. He emphasizes the need for better regulation and centralized policy to manage flood risks effectively while calling for science-driven solutions to inform future land-use decisions.
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Flooding Has Shifted From Rare To Regular
- British Columbia has become a hotbed of frequent flooding over the last decades.
- Multiple large events (2018, 2021, recent repeats) show floods are now the norm, not rare exceptions.
Sumas Prairie Flooded By A U.S. River
- Sumas Prairie flooded twice because the Nooksack River (U.S.) overtopped its dikes across the border.
- Cross-border river management decisions left BC farmland repeatedly inundated in recent years.
Climate Change Is Not The Whole Story
- Climate change increases atmospheric rivers but is only one driver of flood risk.
- Land use changes, especially clear-cut logging, intensify flood frequency and severity alongside warming.