Experts say building dams and diversion channels not the best way to deal with floods

Scientists and conservationists would like to see more focus on natural solutions to floods and droughts, suggesting the proposed McLean Creek dry dam could further degrade a sensitive headwaters area. Rendering courtesy Government of Alberta

Experts say building dams and diversion channels not the best way to deal with floods

By Colette Derworiz, Calgary Herald May 6, 2014

Scientists and conservationists say the province needs to put more focus on avoiding floods rather than spending millions on infrastructure that could further damage the landscape and increase the future risk of both floods and droughts.

On Thursday evening, University of Saskatchewan hydrologists Paul Whitfield and John Pomeroy gave a presentation at the Whyte Museum in Banff on the science behind the 2013 flood.

“Alberta needs to rely much more on avoidance,” Pomeroy said in an interview Friday.

Read article here: http://bit.ly/1mSKTlI

Flood Control Structures Considered for Kananaskis Country

Source: Alberta Flood Recovery Task Force

Flood Control Structures Considered for Kananaskis Country

by Tony Daffern on November 17, 2013

Kevin Van Tighem writes: "Great posting on the proposed "dry dam" on the Elbow River, by Tony Daffern. This dam is perhaps the stupidest and most dangerous idea to come out of the engineers proposing flood mitigation. It will cost hundreds of millions of our dollars, destroy habitat for bull trout, cutthoat trout, elk and other species, look ugly as sin....and increase the risk of future catastrophic flooding. Other than that it's ok."

Read blog post here: http://kananaskisblog.com/flood-control/2013/

"Floods come off landscapes, not rivers"

Click directly on map for larger image

"Floods come off landscapes, not rivers"

Kevin Van Tighem writes:

I've learned a bit more about this. Calgary: brace yourself for an inundation the likes of which you have never imagined in your worst dreams when (not if) this proposed dam fails.

A dam of this sort has never been placed on a live river before. Even in the seasonal desert streams where they've been tried, there have been many failures. No river hydrologists were involved in the scheme before it was announced. They plan to put the whole river through a culvert (a culvert!!) that will be at least half a km long.

The entire river here is a shifting floodplain of loose gravel. Upstream are forests and slopes that will die and collapse into the floodwaters. In the first or second big flood, the culvert will fill with sediment and be plugged by flotsam.

Dry dam in provincial flood mitigation plan ‘doesn’t cut it’

Kevin Van Tighem, biologist and former superintendent of Banff National Park, says a proposed dry dam upstream of the Elbow river won’t do much to help with future flooding, and could be harmful to the natural environment.
Photograph by: Leah Hennel , Calgary Herald

Dry dam in provincial flood mitigation plan ‘doesn’t cut it’

Former Banff Park boss raises environmental concerns

By Colette Derworiz, Calgary Herald November 25, 2013

The former superintendent of Banff National Park says the Redford government has tunnel vision with some of its flood mitigation projects, particularly plans to construct a dry dam upstream of Calgary’s Elbow River.

Read story here: http://bit.ly/18IuLPH