The Alberta government has announced two major flood prevention plans.
A dry dam west of Springbank and a river diversion south of High River will be constructed within three years to prevent the magnitude of damage experienced in 2013, when southern Alberta rivers spilled their banks and caused $5 billion in damage.
“It is imperative that we do something to prevent something like that from happening again,” said premier Jim Prentice Sept. 26 in Calgary.
Each project will cost $150 to $200 million to construct.
The Springbank project affects about 15 landowners, and private negotiations will take place to determine whether buildings should be raised above potential water levels or relocated. Evacuation plans for people and livestock will also be developed.
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This project should protect against the impact of a one-in-200 year flood, while the diversion of water in the Little Bow Region should protect High River in the event of a one-in-300 year flood.
The province is also negotiating a long-term agreement with TransAlta Utilities to ensure the Ghost Reservoir, west of Cochrane on the Bow River, could accommodate flood waters to protect Calgary against a one-in-100 year flood.
In addition, more staff will be hired to deal with disaster recovery applications and appeals. More than 10,500 claims were submitted and 8,000 have been completed.
