Applied Surficial Geology Program: Aggregate Potential Mapping, Squamish Area

This paper outlines a new program of the British Columhia Geological Surbey Branch in the field of applied surficial geology. Its oh.jectivcs are to develop methodologies whereby informatiw from about 2000 existing surficial geology maps, in conjunction with subsurface data, can he used to produce derivative products in applied fields such as aggre@xte resource\. neological hazards, waste disposal and groundwater resources. Some of the most cmnmon applicatioms of surficial gwlogy maps are outlined in this paper; this prqject will define minimum information requirements and standards for producing derivative products in these applied fields. The program i,i designed ~n?ncipall)~ to address the needs of land-use: plrmnen. C&e study a-z; will represent regions cxperiercing high r ales of III~IXUI growth where detailed surficial geologic dat ! are required for resource management and planning, The Squamish Sunshine C:oxt area (Fig1 re 4-3-l) wai selected as a case study area for the first pha ;e of this :.rogram. The surficial geology of rhe area was napped in th? late 1970s by an experienced tt:alu of terrain II lappers durin: the Quadra pro;ect which covixd a large par: of the sourhem Coast Mountains (30 NTS 1~30 000 she E). The re:;io I is characterized by diverse and multiple la111 uses suctl as forestry. recrention and minerid exploratior and WCS the focus of recent environmental science worksh ups and pl’Aic meetings (Ferguson and McPht:e. 199:Z). TI e area is alsa experiencing increasing land use pressures fi xn new hnu!,ing devrlopmrnts, recreationA facilities and new highway alignments and major upgrades. Finally, the region i:; wtsject to a wide variety of geologic halards .uch as CJchris torr~~fs, floods. rockslides, eartblquakes and k la&l haz;rrd;.