The provincial government has put out a call for engineering firms to submit proposals for the examination of the Red Deer River with the aim of coming up with long-term flood reduction measures.
The successful firm will examine the flood risk and write a report for the government. According to the call for proposals, the report will include the following:
• Hydrological mapping to illustrate and support recommendations for mitigation concepts, theories and proposed mitigation projects;
• Illustrations, cross-sections, diagrams, drawings, graphs, photographs, and all other documentation necessary to illustrate the concept of the overall mitigation plan;
• A water management strategy for the Red Deer River basins;
• Project evaluation criteria for evaluating proposed municipal and government projects, based on technical feasibility, economic costs and benefits, social and cultural impacts and benefits, and environmental impacts and benefits.
The successful firm or firms will conduct consultations as part of the examination process.
The Red Deer River caused damage to private and public property near Sundre when it flooded in June.
Myron Thompson is the chairman of the Sundre-based Red Deer River Quality Control Committee,
“I am glad they are showing some interest in doing something,” said Thompson. “The engineering study on that river has been humongous. There have been tons of studies. They (government) know what the problems are and we've told them over and over what they are.
“I think they understand that, so the engineering costs should be minimal. The answers are erosion control, dredging, cleaning, and maintenance. Those are all essential to stop flooding from spreading.”
The multi-stakeholder committee has called on the provincial and federal governments to come up with funds for flood reduction work along the Red Deer River. Doug Griffiths, provincial minister of Municipal Affairs, says the work being undertaken by the engineering firms will lead to better flood protection for communities along the Red Deer River.
“Much work is taking place in southern Alberta to reduce the impact of future flooding and we need to do the same in other communities throughout the province, “ Griffiths said in a press release.
“This is about finding the best ways to protect all Albertans from future flooding. Public involvement and consultation will play a vital role throughout the process and the government of Alberta will use the findings to help shape future flood mitigation policy.”
The closing date for firms to submit proposals is Dec. 5.
Two engineering firms, AMEC and AECOM, have already been hired to examine the Bow, Elbow and Highwood rivers, all of which flooded vast areas in June 2013.
In related news, the province announced last week that it will spend $70 million over the next three years to protect high-priority sites susceptible to flood damage. Those mitigation efforts will be categorized by geographic region and highway classification.
As part of the mitigation process a new “High Runoff Zone (HRZ)” has been identified as the portion of the province that has steep terrain, predominantly the area that drains the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains.
“This area is prone to more frequent large storm events, rapid runoff with little warning,” Minister of Transportation Ric McIvor said in a press release.
