Mr. Vryheid's letter in last week's edition regarding modified operations of the Ghost Reservoir for flood mitigation contains many gross inaccuracies and false allegations, and I felt compelled to set the record straight on this important topic. A public information session was held in Ghost Lake Village on April 30, which Mr. Vryheid did not to attend which could account for his misrepresentation of the facts.
First and foremost, I take umbrage with Mr. Vryheid's allegation the government and I are lying. I wish to state that is patently false. The final agreement on modified operations for Ghost reservoir was made on April 27, 2016, eight days after I informed Mr. Vryheid that an agreement was still under consideration. It is most unfortunate he has mischaracterized this.
The cost of the five-year agreement is $27.5 million, not $40 million as he states. The agreement serves to protect downstream residents immediately in the interim while further flood defence infrastructure projects are being considered or constructed. This new agreement also includes the ability to modify reservoir levels along the Kananaskis system year-round for drought mitigation.
Modified operations of the Ghost and Kananaskis reservoirs provide an important layer of resilience in a changing climate where flood and drought events are expected to become more common and more severe.
The use of existing water management infrastructure complements the province’s other flood and drought resiliency efforts, including community-level mitigation, new flood hazard mapping, and the restoration of wetlands and riparian areas.
Mr. Vryheid is correct that a flood, at some point, could and in fact may happen again. Compared to 2013, and contrary to his claim, we will have even more infrastructure and methods such as reservoir control in place to protect people and property. Plans to increase the height of the Glenmore dam, nearly doubling the reservoir’s capacity is just one example.
In terms of making adjustments to the Ghost reservoir level, those decisions are reassessed on a regular basis (daily and weekly) and are informed by evidence, experience, and climatic conditions. If conditions warrant, water levels may be increased sooner as was the case in 2015. Every year is different, and our response will vary based on real time data.
Additionally, contrary to claims made in Mr. Vryheid's letter, consultation has indeed occurred. He knows this personally, as I visited Mr. Vryheid's property last summer at his request. In addition, public consultation sessions have been held, and the Ghost Lake Village Council has been in active discussions with Ministry of Environment and Parks staff. For Mr. Vryheid to claim consultation has not occurred is both disingenuous and puzzling.
Further, Mr. Vryheid also incorrectly states that the Dutch flood mitigation report was not released to the public. In fact, the report was released to the public a few days after it was received by the government in October 2015, and published online along with a plethora of government documents regarding flood mitigation that has been public for years. You can find this and other studies at http://www.alberta.ca/flood-mitigation-studies.cfm
In terms of the value of properties around the Ghost Reservoir, I sincerely empathize with the position of property owners. With this in mind, TransAlta is operating within the terms of its longstanding licence, which property owners ought to have been aware of when purchasing their properties. With respect to damaged roads, the recently signed agreement with TransAlta includes a provision to repair damage to roads in Ghost Lake Village, again contrary to Mr. Vryheid’s assertion. The Village Council is asking residents to report difficulties with water wells directly to them to co-ordinate assistance.
In summary, the government is committed to protecting communities at risk of flooding through a multi-pronged, transparent approach in the most cost effective and least invasive manner possible. I stand behind what has been done, and remain open to discussing this matter with any constituent who would like more information. Please feel free to reach me at my constituency office at [email protected] or 403-609-4509.
Cam Westhead, MLA
