The City of Calgary has completed it’s annual flood preparations are complete and the 24/7 monitoring of river conditions, weather forecasts and the melting mountain snowpack.
“If you’re property is at risk of flooding, it’s important to take a few steps so you can be ready.” River Engineering Team Lead Sandy Davis
Calgary’s 2023 flood season is off to a hot and sunny start this week, River Engineering Team Lead Sandy Davis cautions that conditions and forecasts can change dramatically and quickly for our mountain-fed rivers. “This is why we prepare for flood season each year. As outlooks change, we’re ready to respond to keep Calgarians safe and protect critical infrastructure, vital community services, the environment and our economy,”.
Due to recent rains and high temperatures causing early melting of the snowpack in the Rockies has kickstarted the spring run off early causing water levels to higher than they would be around this time of the year. June 11, 2023 marks the ten year anniversary of the 2013 floods that greatly impacted not just Calgary but much of southern Alberta which caused approximately five billion dollars worth of damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure.
Since the floods the City of Calgary has bolstered it’s infrastructure which will help reduce the City’s flood risk by 55 per cent and with the scheduled completion of the Sunnyside flood barrier and the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir, it will add an additional 15 per cent bringing the flood reduction to 70 per cent.
However, Davis in a media release wants to remind Calgarians that flood can’t be fully prevented, “If you’re property is at risk of flooding, it’s important to take a few steps so you can be ready. And for those of us who love to enjoy our beautiful river pathways and parks, it’s also important to exercise caution around riverbanks because fast-moving water can cause erosion and destabilization”.
For more information about flooding and how to be ready in case of a flood visit the City of Calgary’s website.
Comments