Province pours $13.5M into 3 projects aiming to prevent, mitigate floods
The Alberta government committed $13.5 million toward three new flood mitigation projects in Calgary on Tuesday, as Mayor Naheed Nenshi urged Calgarians to be prepared for flooding season.
The provincial investments include $4.15 million to extend the downtown flood barrier from Eau Claire to Reconciliation Bridge, $4.15 million to separate the upper plateau storm water system from the neighbourhoods of Sunnyside-Hillhurst, and $5.2 million to improve the flood resiliency of a new replacement bridge on 9th Avenue into Inglewood.
In 2015, the NDP government committed $150 million over 10 years to flood mitigation in Calgary following the 2013 flood that swept through the city and significant parts of southern Alberta.
“It’s our shared responsibility to do everything that we can to prevent and mitigate such disasters from happening again,” Environment Minister Shannon Phillips said at a news conference at McDougall Centre on Tuesday.
The projects are cost-shared with the city, with provincial funding representing 70 per cent of the total cost.
Nenshi said the latest commitment of provincial cash for mitigation means the city is about halfway through its $150-million allocation.
He told reporters that flooding remains the No. 1 concern for Calgary.
With the city heading into potential flooding season, the mayor said indicators don’t show cause for major concern and the city is much better prepared than it was five years ago.
However, “we also must remain vigilant,” said Nenshi.
“One adverse weather event — you know, rain on snow as we saw in 2013 — can change the system,” he said.
“There’s nothing to be nervous about but we must always remain vigilant. And remaining vigilant also means making sure your home is prepared.”
The mountain snowpack was at 128 per cent of average as of April 1, higher than it was in 2013, but future rainfall is by far the biggest point of concern.
“The potential flood risk, it will very much depend on the upcoming summer precipitation,” said David Watson, river forecast engineer with Alberta Environment.
Phillips noted the effect of climate change makes extreme weather events such as flooding more likely.
The province announced $30 million in total flood funding on Tuesday, with dollars also flowing to a constructed wetland in Taber and a new sediment trap and bank improvements in the Municipal District of Bighorn.
Drainage improvement on the Cold Lake First Nation and a new storm water outfall in Grande Prairie are also receiving funding.
Meanwhile, one key part of the government’s upstream flood plan for Calgary remains under fire, with strong opposition from the Tsuut’ina Nation and landowners to the proposed $432-million Springbank Dam aimed at preventing flooding on the Elbow River.
Phillips said the province remains committed to the dam and Nenshi said it is the best option for protecting Calgary.
The province said Tuesday that the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency has now accepted Alberta’s environmental impact assessment — which it had sent back for further work last fall — and is beginning its technical review.
The government also announced it is beginning to study the three storage options identified for the Bow River: a new Glenbow reservoir, a new Morley reservoir or an expansion of the Ghost River reservoir.
That assessment will be completed in about a year.
“I get really impatient on this stuff but, again, we have to get it right,” said Nenshi.
“Getting it right on such important and large investments is critical. If it takes a bit more time, it takes a bit more time.”