Provincial grant funding totalling about $116 million was committed to flood-impacted communities across Southern Alberta, including Rocky View County (RVC), Nov. 8, through the government of Alberta’s Flood Recovery Erosion Control Program (FRECP).
“It is prudent and forward-thinking to invest in longer-term mitigation strategies to better protect property and infrastructure in the event of future floods,” stated Kyle Fawcett, associate minister for recovery and reconstruction of Southern Alberta, in a press release.
Funding through the program, provided through the Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD), will be used to stabilize the banks of rivers and creeks, repair property or infrastructure damaged by floods or erosion, and for mitigation projects such as dykes and berms.
“While some communities have already done good work to re-contour creeks and stabilize channels, we need to better ensure the long-term stability of the banks and the safety of residents,” said ESRD Minister Diana McQueen in a press release when the program was announced in August.
The $1.135 million grant approved for RVC will be used to cover the project costs of armoring the banks of the Elbow River in four separate locations within the Hamlet of Bragg Creek, said RVC capital projects team lead Jorie McKenzie to council at a special meeting called for Nov. 8.
RVC reeve Margaret Bahcheli said completing the bank armoring projects “is critical for the residents of the hamlet.”
“This is our first line of protection right now for future flood damage and to try to bring some control to the river,” she said, adding she thanks the province for “being there to provide this type of support and making the money available quickly.”
The special council meeting was called to approve the grant agreement, as well as a budget adjustment, in order for work on the projects to begin immediately “with the intent of completing at least one (urgent project), on White Avenue, before winter weather precludes construction,” stated a County report.
McKenzie told council the grant application was submitted to the province in September and “captures some critical infrastructure projects in the Bragg Creek hamlet.”
“Through the process of this grant application, we have retained the expertise of some river engineering consultants to develop, prioritize and identify areas in the community that could utilize armoring and erosion control.”
According to a county report, funding up to $2 million is available to RVC through the Flood Erosion Control Program, and another $1 million is available with a 25 per cent cost-share from RVC, if required.
McKenzie said county staff are working with river engineering specialists to determine other locations that would benefit from the program and meet the program requirements, and RVC plans to submit a second application for funding before the program deadline Jan. 31, 2014.
Bragg Creek-area councillor Liz Breakey said she is “delighted with this infusion of money.”
“The number one goal for the flood-affected areas within the Hamlet of Bragg Creek for the short term is simply to make people feel safe and protected, as much as is possible, from another flood tragedy.”
She added she thinks with the provincial support to help address the damage the flood caused in the hamlet “there is a real opportunity to turn around a very difficult situation for the businesses and residents and to restore confidence in the future.”
More than $37 million in FRECP funding has already been approved and allocated to projects in communities across the province. The City of Calgary was approved for $12.6 million in FRECP funding for five projects along the Bow River. The City of Medicine Hat was approved for $9.1 million and High River for $2.2 million, as well as several other municipalities. According to the press release, more communities will receive grants as applications are received and needs are assessed.
