Redwood Meadows’ staff are planning to rebuild and repair flood damage to its berm and redirect the Elbow River with funds provided by the provincial government.
A three-kilometre berm was built near the townsite, located along the Elbow River, in the 1990s, which prevented the community from flooding in June, said Redwood Meadows mayor John Welsh.
Though the berm protected the community, Welsh said he is still concerned about the potential damage the townsite’s infrastructure could incur in the event of a future flood because the river changed its course after the June 20 flood; perhaps as much as 500 meters.
In the event of a future flood, Welsh said the current path of the river could head directly towards the lift station, which transports the community’s sewage to lagoons located four kilometres away.
“The problem is that if we have another flood of this magnitude the current path of the river would most likely destroy our sewage infrastructure (lift station and sewage pipes),” said Welsh.
The mayor said he is also concerned another flood could destroy parts of Highway 22 north of the townsite and a major natural gas line, located along Highway 22, that brings natural gas to the community.
Welsh said the province has confirmed funding is available to rebuild the berm to its pre-flood conditions, and the townsite is also asking the province for funding and approval to have the river diverted.
“Engineer and surveyor firms are currently putting together cost estimates, and some rough estimates put the cost of the repairs as high as $5 million,” Welsh said.
“Part of our flood mitigation plan is to request provincial funding to rebuild the berm and approval from the province so we can redirect the river,” said Welsh. “Redirecting the river will be part of this project, which is to be completed by spring 2014.”
Welsh said the engineering company they have hired is currently surveying the costs associated with rebuilding the berm.
Surveyors are expected to start work on the berm in the next couple of weeks.
