In the aftermath of the tragic flooding of southern Alberta, the inevitable “Let’s make sure it never happens again” talk has begun, and it’s begun at the highest levels of government.
Premier Alison Redford recently commented that the Province of Alberta cannot, in good conscience, continue to allow people to develop along flood plains, particularly residential development. Existing guidelines that allow such development seem to be approaching their end.
The province, under Municipal Affairs Minister Doug Griffiths, has begun talking about provincial programs to move southern Albertans away from flood plains, particularly those areas that commonly flood. One flood victim in High River, Jane Russell, was quoted as saying she won’t rebuild her damaged home after the property it was on has flooded 10 times in 25 years and obviously property with such a history should be closely examined for its suitability as a residence.
Griffiths has suggested the province offer land swaps as part of its program, offering people who live in flood plains an equal amount of government land elsewhere. Also, the plan for southern Alberta, according to Griffith’s office, could include government money to pay for permanent berms and water channeling developments such as dikes.
There’s no indication the southern Alberta flood mitigation program will be duplicated further north. However, any rational person who saw the high water around Edmonton, St. Albert and other areas must concede it’s very likely to be mandatory here too if introduced in southern Alberta. A few weeks ago the Sturgeon River, even though it’s not connected to the mountains, submerged walking paths downtown, with water reaching within 50 to 100 feet of nearby apartments. Owners of businesses near the St. Albert Trail bridge must also have been wringing their hands a few weeks ago when waters peaked.
Judging by comments from canoeists and others familiar with the Sturgeon, the greatest risk seems to be downtown St. Albert. Even then, drainage issues tend to be the main culprit when looking at the Perron Street area.
The city bases its high water strategy on the 2007 Big Lake Basin Task Force Floodplain delineation for St. Albert-Sturgeon River, and Mayor Nolan Crouse told the Gazette Tuesday that the city at that time moved the flood line up to further protect residents.
He said, according to the municipal regulations, there is nothing in St. Albert that is below the flood line except for a few buildings in the Mission Avenue area, west of the bridge over St. Albert Trail. The same area was the only spot this spring where sandbags were delivered when the Sturgeon swelled.
Overconfidence aside, it seems the City of St. Albert is ahead of the curve when it comes to flood mitigation.
