Alberta flood mitigation could include underground diversion

The government of Alberta is to hold consultations and environmental reviews on measures to protect Calgary and other towns in southern Alberta from future flooding. In June this year, the region suffered badly from flooding due to heavy rainful.

Premier Alison Redford has announced that the province is starting consultations on a diversion channel around High River and a dry dam upstream of Calgary. As well, the province is providing a grant to the city of Calgary to study the feasibility of an underground diversion from the Glenmore Reservoir to the Bow River.

Diana McQueen, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, said in an announcement: “The projects are part of a province-wide mitigation strategy that adds layers of resiliency against future floods. Current and future mitigation projects are developed through consultations with Albertans, municipalities, irrigation districts, the province’s Flood Advisory Panel and experts such as Alberta WaterSMART.”