Taber East Constructed Wetlands breaks ground
Officials from the Town of Taber, Taber Irrigation District and guests from the Municipal District of Taber broke ground on the future $7.4 million Taber East Constructed Wetlands on April 27th.
The Town of Taber undertook a Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) in 2015 that identified a need for storm water storage on the east side of Taber, adjacent to the Taber reservoir.
Following further discussions, it was decided the storage solution should be a constructed wetland. Best practices for modern stormwater storage recommends wetlands for their enhanced treatment capabilities. The purpose of the wetlands is to direct stormwater from the intersection of Highway 36 and 56th Avenue to the wetlands where it will be stored and treated naturally. The East Constructed Wetlands project was added to in 2017 to the SWMP.
2018 saw flooding occur in the Taber region, which increased the Town’s desire to expand our stormwater storage capabilities, particularly for the protection of our east industrial area. As the East Constructed Wetlands was already identified as a priority in the 2017 SWMP, the Town began implementation.
To remain in compliance with the Water Act and proceed with the project, final acceptance of the design is required by the Taber Irrigation District. The Town of Taber is proud to have received TID’s approval and partnership, resulting in the start of the wetland’s construction.
The total storage volume will be 100,000 cubic metres for stormwater runoff and sits on 22 acres of land thanks to a long-term lease from the Taber Irrigation District. The project is expected to be completed at the end of 2023.
The Town of Taber gratefully acknowledges funding from the Government of Canada and Province of Alberta towards this project.