On average, the extent of glaciers in our region dropped 14% over the period 1985-2005. That's an average rate of change of 0.7% per year. The trend for this region is more pronounced than the average for Western Canada” 11% over the entire study period, or 0.6% per year.

The rate of glacial melt is higher in certain parts of the region. Glaciers in the south are receding the fastest, while glaciers in the north are receding the slowest.

Research suggests that glacier size is an important factor affecting rates of recession. In our region, one of the smaller glaciers, the New Denver glacier, is receding at an alarming pace. Over the period 1999 to 2010, the extent of the New Denver glacier dropped by 54%, a rate of almost 5% per year.