B.C. flood mitigation projects given funding

The Canadian and B.C. governments announced on May 2 in Delta that they will spend $27 million jointly on 26 projects to mitigate the effects of flooding.

The projects were selected based on whether they provided cost effective solutions for the areas at risk from applications from local governments and dike authorities.

The investment is being made through the federal Building Canada Fund for Communities with less than 100,000 people and the Building Canada (Provincail-Territorial Base Projects) Flood Protection Program.

The projects include dike and berm construction, bank stabilization and erosion control, as well as upgrades to pumping stations, sediment basins and outfalls.

Of the 26 projects, the largest investment is $6.7 million for Phase 3 of the North Cowichan and Duncan Dikes and Pump Station project.

Over $4 million being spent on the Duncan-Koksilah Industrial Area Dike construction, and over $3 million on the Kimberley-Mark Creek Flume Stream Rehabilitation.

In the City of Richmond, $3.7 million is being spent to upgrade the Bath Sough Drainage Pump Station out of the Building Canada Plan’s provincial-territorial base projects flood protection program.