Flood mitigation: Springbank reservoir selected to protect Calgary

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, standing next to Alberta Environment Minister Shannon Phillips, speaks to reporters about the planned Springbank reservoir flood-mitigation project. (Evelyne Asselin/CBC)

Flood mitigation: Springbank reservoir selected to protect Calgary

Environment Minister Shannon Phillips joined Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi to announce the project

via CBC News, October 26, 2015

Alberta will build a major reservoir in Springbank to protect Calgary from Elbow River flooding, the province has announced.

The move is sure to upset area landowners opposed to the project, but was welcomed by Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

Read more here:  http://www.cbc.ca/…/flood-diversion-plan-phillips-nenshi-1.…

Room for the river report moves focus beyond big infrastructure

Photo: An elevated view of the flooding at Bow River gave onlookers a view next to the downtown core, in Calgary, Alberta in June 2013.
DAVE BUSTON / AFP/Getty Images

Room for the river report moves focus beyond big infrastructure

Colette Derworiz, Calgary Herald, Jan 12, 2014

Giving the province’s rivers more room to grow by revisiting property buyouts, preventing future floodplain development and widening riverbanks is an effective way to both mitigate future floods and manage watersheds, according to a new report.

The study, which was submitted to the province in late December, involved input from water managers, watershed groups, municipalities, environmental groups, experts and the interested public.

It examined an approach called Room for the River — used in the Netherlands as an effective way to manage high water levels along its rivers by giving them more room — after former environment minister Robin Campbell visited Holland and asked for a report on whether similar concepts could work in Alberta.

Read more here: http://bit.ly/1uk30tG

"Protecting city from future floods makes economic sense"

Photo, Courtesy Calgary Herald

Bow River Shuttles writes: "There were two items in the Calgary Herald this morning related to the proposed flood mitigation project in Springbank, on the western outskirts of the City of Calgary.

One was a couple of paragraphs in a column by Barry Cooper. The other was a full op-ed piece written by The Calgary River Communities Action Group." 


"All Prentice needs is a little common sense"

by Barry Cooper, Calgary Herald, Nov 11, 2014

... Ramping up the disaster recovery program to process flood damage applications made sense. On the other hand, the massive flood mitigation program for Springbank, does not. According to an engineering professor at the University of Western Ontario, Slobodan Simonovic, it was “unbelievable” to support such a project without thorough cost-benefit analysis. The premier said it was cost-effective, but offered no evidence.

Perhaps the announcement was made to help Education Minister Gordon Dirks’ election in Calgary-Elbow, which was badly flooded in 2013. Or perhaps we need to keep an eye on who gets the $200-million contract to build it. Either way, it looks like machine politics...

Read more here: http://bit.ly/1EDZICh

 

"Protecting city from future floods makes economic sense"

by Tony Morris and Brenda Leeds Binder, Co-Presidents of the Calgary River Communities Action Group, Calgary Herald, Nov 11, 2014

...The articles seem to attempt to pit homeowners of Elbow River communities against Springbank landowners. The Springbank Off-Stream Diversion will not only protect lives and property, but hundreds of millions of dollars of city infrastructure, private and public capital project in the downtown core and river communities and ensure continued prosperity of the economic engine of Canada...

Read more here: http://bit.ly/1xzKdsL

Flood diversion project no longer based on economic worth, documents show

Signs supporting the DontDamnSpringbank.org movement are posted on fences along Springbank Road. The area is near the proposed Springbank dam and reservoir, and residents are trying the fight the province’s plan.
Photograph by: Colleen De Neve Colleen De Neve, Calgary Herald

Flood diversion project no longer based on economic worth, documents show

Critics say reservoir must make financial sense

By Matt McClure, Calgary Herald October 30, 2014

The province no longer wants projections of economic worth included in the environmental impact assessment report for a proposed $200-million river diversion project to protect Calgary from flooding....

A document obtained by the Herald shows government bureaucrats proposed in July that the report on the Springbank offstream reservoir would need a cost-benefit ratio that would assist the province’s natural resources regulator in deciding whether to approve construction.

But now provincial officials believe the Natural Resources Conservation Board only needs an assessment that estimates the project’s cost and the damages that it would mitigate during major floods to rule on whether the reservoir is in the public interest.

Landowners west of the city, who the province now says could see up to 1,169 hectares of their land expropriated to make way for the canal and reservoir, are concerned the report to the NRCB won’t specifically examine whether the project makes financial sense.

Read more here: http://bit.ly/13ptJIJ

#abwater #abflood

Flood mitigation is a high priority for premier

Jim Prentice
Photograph by: Darcy Henton, Calgary Herald

Flood mitigation is a high priority for premier

Here are two responses to a Calgary Herald article (Oct 18) "Pouring money into the flood". (read original article here: http://bit.ly/1y2Yahq )

The first is from Kevin Van Tighmam, the second from Premier Jim Prentice.

Kevin Van Tighham writes: 

"This is essentially building a huge new floodplain for the river in order to avoid letting it back onto its actual floodplain. The houses along the Elbow River in Calgary include many occupied by wealthy people the Conservatives are wooing That's why the logical solution - buy them out and give Calgary a magnificent new urban park - is off the table and flooding out rural people who never built on a floodplain is the preferred option. Evidently the golden rule continues to apply down where the river lives: them as has the gold makes the rules."

Jim Prentice op-ed:

Prentice: Flood mitigation is a high priority for premier
By Jim Prentice, Calgary Herald October 21, 2014
Re: “Pouring money into the flood,” Oct. 18.

The flood of June 2013 caused nothing less than catastrophic damage to communities along the Bow and Elbow rivers and all orders of government have the responsibility to mitigate the risk of repeat events. This is the simple underlying reason behind moving forward with key and effective mitigation measures now.
The Springbank Off-Stream Diversion Project meets the important test of being a strong solution that is also cost-effective, environmentally defensible and quickly actionable. That is why I moved to advance this project immediately upon becoming premier.

A Calgary Herald story published Oct. 18 says that the cost-benefits of the project do not add up. I disagree. I would note first and foremost that public safety is of utmost importance to this government and that cannot be measured in dollars alone.

Read more here: http://bit.ly/1wFT9fL

Report says reservoir costs higher than future flood damage

A car drives along Springbank Road into the area that is ground zero for the Springbank dam and reservoir. Area residents are trying the fight the province’s plan.
Photograph by: Colleen De Neve , Calgary Herald

Report says reservoir costs higher than future flood damage

By Matt McClure, Calgary Herald October 18, 2014

The Alberta government says an estimated $160-million diversion canal and dry reservoir west of Calgary is a “cost-effective” solution to protecting city residents vulnerable to flooding.

But the province’s own preliminary analysis shows it would be cheaper to compensate homeowners for damages every time the Elbow River overflows its banks during the next century than pay now for the massive mitigation project.

Read article here: http://bit.ly/1y2Yahq

Floods may be the new normal

Floods may be the new normal

Calgary Herald, June 21 2014

In Flood Forecast, a new Rocky Mountain Books manifesto, longtime Canmore resident and world-renowned water expert Robert Sandford and Water Canada editor Kerry Freek detail the frightening flooding in Alberta and Toronto in 2013 and argue that the worst could well be yet to come. 

Their most unsettling conclusion? Changes to the earth’s climate have enabled our atmosphere to hold much more water vapour than in years past and that far from “one in 100 year” events, the resulting extreme weather and flooding is the new normal.

The following is excerpted with permission from Flood Forecast: Climate Risk and Resiliency in Canada.

Read more here: http://bit.ly/1o66g3m

A million trees to stand guard against flood

A million trees to stand guard against flood

by Dylan Robertson, Calgary Herald,Thursday, June 19, 2014

An Alberta farming couple is leading an effort to improve the Bow River watershed by planting a million trees within 100 kilometres of downtown Calgary. With city approval and crowdfunding support, the campaign kicked off Wednesday at the Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area.

Brad Rabiey and his wife, Rebecca, who run The Carbon Farmer, a company that plants native trees in previously cleared lands while helping businesses shrink their carbon footprint, spoke to the Herald's Dylan Robertson about the project.

Read more here: http://bit.ly/TGvbRI

Flood hit home for water expert

Bob Sandford at Canadian Pacific’s culvert across Cougar Creek in Canmore. Photograph by: CRAIG DOUCE

Flood hit home for water expert

Crisis put Canmore man at odds with family and community

By Colette Derworiz, Calgary Herald June 17, 2014

CANMORE — For Bob Sandford, a renowned water expert, the Alberta flood has gotten extremely personal.

The longtime Canmore resident not only watched last June’s flooding first-hand, but he has spent much of the past year dealing with its effects — both on a personal and professional level.

As the Canadian chairman of the United Nation’s Water for Life Decade initiative, which works to inform the public about water issues, he has spoken extensively on the worst natural disaster in Alberta’s history. He also co-wrote a book, Flood Forecast, which was released in May.

But he admits it hasn’t always been easy to keep the emotion out of it.

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

Flood-altered Bow River a new experience for Calgary fishing guides

Flood-altered Bow River a new experience for Calgary fishing guides

CBC's Erin Collins floats down the Bow River to see the change wrought by last year's flood

By Erin Collins, CBC News Posted: Jun 20, 2014

Few people know southern Alberta rivers better than those who count on them to make a living.

That is especially true for the fishing guides who take thousands of Calgary visitors floating down the Bow River each summer. 

 
Read more and view news video clip here:  http://bit.ly/1ptNAgZ

Montana’s deadly flood a lesson Calgary chose to ignore

Streets in Choteau, Mont., turned into waterfalls during the 1964 flood. More than 30 people died when rivers raged in a storm eerily similar to the one in Alberta in June 2013. Photo, courtesy Great Falls Tribune

Bow River Shuttles writes: "If you read only one article this month on the proposed flood diversion structures for the Elbow and Bow Rivers, make it this one."

Montana’s deadly flood a lesson Calgary chose to ignore

By Matt McClure, Calgary Herald June 16, 2014

".....In the immediate aftermath of the 2013 floods in Alberta, then environment minister Diana McQueen would remark that “no report or recommendations looking at the lessons of the past could have prepared us for this event.”

But the historical record clearly shows that over the years engineering experts had called time and again for restrictions on development in vulnerable, low-lying areas of Calgary in an effort to limit damages from the inevitable disaster.

Archival documents also show that in the face of stiff opposition from residents of riverside neighbourhoods who feared those curbs would cause property values to plummet, civic and provincial politicians balked at banning further building in the flood plain....."

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

Province hints at forgoing flood diversion projects in High River

Photo courtesy High River RCMP , Handouts

Province hints at forgoing flood diversion projects in High River

By Trevor Howell, Calgary Herald May 20, 2014

Alberta’s municipal affairs minister hinted that diverting surging water from the Highwood River around High River during flood events could be scaled back or shelved following a cost-benefit analysis.

“You may find when you start modelling . . . that you may not need diversions,” Greg Weadick told the Herald. “Or you may just find that you can do a modest diversion and not have to put a dam structure in, which would be incredibly expensive. Those are things we will look at.”

Read article here: http://bit.ly/RUXBGQ

Conservationists say flood mitigation will cause more problems

Carolyn Campbell of the Alberta Wilderness Association says the province needs to take another look at it flood mitigation plans. (photo, CBC)

Conservationists say flood mitigation will cause more problems

Concerns raised over the province's plans to divert rivers

CBC News: May 01, 2014

From the article:

...Trout Unlimited is concerned about how much rip-rap, a man-made material, is being used to stabilize riverbanks, rather than using trees and other natural methods.

Brian Meagher says boulders actually speed up rivers when they flood, potentially causing more damage as rushing water cuts deeper into riverbeds.

"By doing that, you lose that connection between the trees and the riparian zone which is so critically important for all kinds of ecosystems."

It's estimated large mitigation projects will take several years to complete if they're approved.

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

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 forecast with Bob Sanford

Flood forecast with Bob Sanford

This is a seven minute audio interview with Bob Sanford. Very much worth a few minutes of your time, in our opinion. He addresses many topics related to our 2013 flood, both looking back and looking to the future. 

Contrary to what some officials were describing as a 1 in 500 year flood, or 1 in 100 year flood, analysis of this event shows that it was actually a 1 in 45 year flood as far as Calgary is concerned. 

Listen here: http://bit.ly/SUeF0T

Ironies and issues float to surface after great flood

Jerry Osborn. Photo, courtesy Calgary Herald

Ironies and issues float to surface after great flood

By Jerry Osborn and Cathy Ryan, Calgary Herald May 1, 2014

Bow River Shuttles writes: "This is the best article we've seen to date on the subject of our 2013 Flood."

Just as floods are inevitable, so too is the pattern of the aftermath. Complaints against insurance companies, complaints against the government, folks wanting to be considered to be on the floodway (so they can get bought out), folks wanting to be considered to be off the floodway (so they can stay put), general resistance to floodplain regulation, pressure to solve problems with engineering solutions, accrual of political capital by quick action on highly visible projects — these stories have played out many times in North America.

In the Calgary case, a few ironies emerge:

Read story here: http://bit.ly/1o156K3

Province inches ahead on major flood mitigation projects

(Click on image for larger version) The proposed McLean Creek dry dam, shown in an artist’s rendering, would help control flow rates on the Elbow River during flood conditions.

Province inches ahead on major flood mitigation projects

by Matt McClure, Calgary Herald April 29, 2014

... Many of the dry dams on the Elbow River upstream of Calgary proposed by a citizen’s advisory panel last fall have been dismissed because of their environmental or financial cost, but provincial consultants have found two projects they believe may be worth considering.

One is a 50-metre-high structure that would be built southwest of Bragg Creek that would have a storage capacity of 49 million cubic metres, and the other is an off-stream reservoir near Springbank Road west of Calgary that would hold 59 million cubic metres...

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

Watch it live!!

Watch it live!!

Alberta's Watershed Management Symposium: Flood and Drought Mitigation

This public symposium covers Alberta's progress to improve its flood and drought resiliency, including the role of natural solutions.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014
BMO Centre, Hall D
20 Roundup Way, Calgary

Watch it live

This event will be webcast. Viewers can visit this page on April 29 to access the live stream. Times below reflect Mountain Daylight Time (UTC-6h).

Live stream here: http://alberta.ca/flood-symposium.cfm

“Alberta’s Watershed Management Symposium: Flood and Drought Mitigation" - (Calgary) April 29

Photo, courtesy reminetwork

“Alberta’s Watershed Management Symposium: Flood and Drought Mitigation" - (Calgary) April 29

The Government of Alberta is hosting a one-day symposium to discuss progress and further improvements to prevent future floods and drought.

“Alberta’s Watershed Management Symposium: Flood and Drought Mitigation” includes an update on snowpack data and river forecasting, as well as assessments of mitigation options for Alberta’s most flood-prone river basins.

Experts will also speak to the critical role natural headwaters play in flood and drought mitigation. The symposium takes place on April 29th, 10:00 am – 3:30 pm, at BMO Centre, Calgary.

More info here: http://bit.ly/1f2Jw4Q

Related article here: http://bit.ly/1fias0S

Flood report suggests relocation less costly than mitigation

A report submitted to the province by Alberta WaterSmart studied the trade offs of various flood mitigation options on the river systems. It shows relocation of property and restoration of natural river systems are the most effective options. Photo, Ted Rhodes, Calgary Herald

Flood report suggests relocation less costly than mitigation

By Colette Derworiz, Calgary Herald April 14, 2014

The 2013 flood left five people dead and destroyed property, but a new report says mitigation measures being debated to protect against future flooding would have severe consequences for other communities and the environment.

Called the Bow Basin Flood Mitigation and Watershed Management Project, the report by Alberta WaterSmart studied the trade offs of various flood mitigation options on the river systems.

Read more here: http://bit.ly/1noHATS