Two years after the flood that devastated Bragg Creek, High River, and parts of Calgary, Rocky View County (RVC) residents are still waiting for the provincial government to provide a local mitigation project that will offer protection from future floods.
Despite campaign promises to pursue the proposed McLean Creek dry dam as an alternative to the previously green-lighted Springbank off-stream storage site, the NDP government recently announced that all projects are still on the table.
According to Laura Tupper, press secretary for Environment Minister Shannon Phillips, the government “understands families, business owners and municipal leaders are anxious for a resolution,” but Phillips is unwilling to provide further information.
“Our government is working to provide better flood protection for the city of Calgary. We are doing our due diligence in reviewing the options before us to ensure we arrive at a solution that reflects public safety and upholds our responsibility to Albertans,” Tupper said. “We are committed to making decisions without unnecessary delay.”
Bragg Creek business owner Margaret Barclay is hoping to see the McLean Creek dry dam emerge as a strong candidate for mitigation. She believes that option would provide the most benefit to residents – not only in terms of flood mitigation, but also as a multi-dimensional solution that would provide water conservation and a recreational amenity.
“I strongly believe that a mitigation solution of this extent should be a headwater solution,” she said. “The land in Springbank was never meant to hold water; they would have to dig so substantially into that pristine ranchland. Springbank is a special place, and it’s part of our heritage - it just doesn’t make sense to spend money to destroy that community.”
Instead, Barclay said she would rather see residents’ tax dollars invested in a solution “for the long-term benefit of Albertans.” According to Barclay, an upstream dry dam on McLean Creek would protect more communities that were hit by the 2013 flood – including Bragg Creek and Redwood Meadows — than the Springbank off-stream storage site, which is downstream on the Elbow River from those communities.
The proposed McLean Creek dry dam also offers a unique opportunity to enhance tourism in the region, added Barclay, providing a “future” for the province and creating jobs in the eco-tourism industry.
“It opens up the possibility for new businesses and for young, sporty professionals to move out to smaller communities like Bragg Creek, Black Diamond, and Turner Valley,” she said. “This area could be rebuilt into a water reservoir type of environment that can be used for non-motorized recreational amenities. With a solution that services that many purposes, we will see payback throughout the entire region.”
Barclay feels the McLean Creek proposal is “back in the forefront” for the provincial government, and hopes to see an announcement to that effect.
“My understanding is that they feel they are not ready to commit to either project at this time, until they meet with stakeholders in the areas to do a little bit more investigation,” she said. “I really believe that looking at some type of management solution at McLean Creek would provide this province with so many beautiful opportunities.”
