The approval of more than $5 million in funding has the Town of Cochrane officially ready to start working on a number of mitigation and erosion control projects planned for the Jumpingpound Creek and the Bow River.
The hefty grant was awarded to the Town by Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development through the 2013 Flood Recovery Erosion Control (FREC) program. A total of $5,045,413 was allotted to Cochrane.
“These funds will help us with erosion control and mitigation work to help us be prepared for future situations,” remarked Mayor Ivan Brooker in a release issued by the town March 17.
“We appreciate the province’s assistance to get this work done as soon as possible.”
The money will be used to fund three projects: armouring the banks along Jumpingpound Creek under the bridge on George Fox Trail, reinforcing the banks of the Jumpingpound from the George Fox Trail bridge to the Bow River, and potential berm construction along the Bow River by the water treatment plant and downstream from the Jumpingpound.
During a recent interview with the Eagle, Suzanne Gaida — the town’s senior manager of community services — estimated the first project would cost about $2 million, the second about $1 million, and the third project would set the town back about $2.4 million.
The work includes the installation of a riprap along the Jumpingpound creek, a small berm along the pathway north of the George Fox Trail bridge, as well as further studies to determine if a berm should be constructed along the Bow River to protect homes and infrastructure.
Plans are currently being developed and work will proceed as soon as all approvals are received.
