Making Grand Forks safer, more resilient through flood-mitigation projects

GRAND FORKS -

Summary

• The City of Grand Forks completes its flood-mitigation program, launched in response to 2018 floods
• The community's neighbourhoods, businesses, industries and critical infrastructure are better protected through several projects
• The Province has provided approximately $60 million to Grand Forks and surrounding area for flood response, recovery and mitigation since the 2018 floods

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People in Grand Forks are benefiting from the completion of the Grand Forks Flood Mitigation Program, through which several projects help prevent flooding in the area, better protecting people, businesses and homes in the community.

"People in Grand Forks and their neighbourhoods are much safer with the completion of these projects, which are the result of good collaboration between the city, the Province and the federal government," said Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. "The success of the Grand Forks Flood Mitigation Program shows what's possible when all levels of government work together to reduce risk to people and communities that are experiencing the consequences of a changing climate."

The Grand Forks Flood Mitigation Program consists of several components, including four new dikes, new stormwater and drainage systems, and the restoration of a floodplain, including an off-river habitat channel.

Program launched in aftermath of flooding

The worst flood in Grand Forks' recorded history struck the area on May 10, 2018, after a week of high temperatures and three days of rainfall as the Kettle and Granby rivers rose significantly. Conditions were worsened by rapid melting of a snowpack that was almost two and a half times the average for early May.

In total, the Province has invested nearly $60 million in response, recovery and mitigation projects in Grand Forks and the Boundary region. At the outset of the flooding, the Province provided approximately $19 million in response and recovery supports, including supports to evacuees for their immediate and medium-term needs.

During flood recovery, the city, Province and Regional District of Kootenay Boundary worked together on a mitigation plan to reduce flood risks with a system of dikes, drainage and natural infrastructure components.

For the Grand Forks Flood Mitigation Program, the Province contributed nearly $29 million initially and another $2.6 million for downtown protective works. It was followed by four grants totalling more than $8 million from the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF). The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary also received approximately $815,000 from the CEPF for this work.

The federal government provided nearly $20 million from the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund. The City of Grand Forks contributed a total of $9 million.

Components of the flood-mitigation program

The completed Grand Forks Flood Mitigation Program consists of:

• One-hundred and seventeen hectares of core neighbourhoods, commercial area, industrial lands and critical infrastructure are protected, providing flood protection for more than 400 residents and an estimated 875 jobs, including most of downtown and the main industrial area. The area protected includes more than 200 residential properties and 108 commercial and industrial properties.
• More than three kilometres of diking, 390 metres of stormwater mains, two permanent stormwater pump stations capable of removing 3,040 litres per second and more than 500 metres of stormwater management and drainage improvements were constructed.
• Ten hectares of floodplain were restored to create room for the river to spread between the new dikes downtown and south of the Kettle River. It included purchasing the 66-home North Ruckle neighbourhood and removing houses, foundations, roads, utilities and the existing dike from 1974 that overtopped and breached in 2018.
• Seventy residential properties and 20 vacant properties were acquired, and more than 20 statutory rights of way on provincial and private property to support the construction of dike and drainage systems. Nineteen homes were relocated to new properties.
• A 1.8-hectare off-river bypass channel was created to reduce flood risk, the installation of fish habitat structures, and 28,000 trees and shrubs were planted along the channel banks and nearby areas.

Disaster preparedness throughout B.C.

Since 2017, the Province has provided nearly $580 million for approximately 2,940 disaster-preparedness and mitigation projects administered through the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. It includes approximately $350 million provided to First Nations and local governments for more than 2,700 projects through the CEPF.

More than $410 million has been invested by the Province for nearly 600 flood-risk-reduction projects since 2017 with local governments and First Nations.

The Province also established the Disaster Resilience and Innovation Funding program to help First Nations and local governments strengthen defences against natural and climate-caused hazards. Approximately $45 million has been committed for 67 ongoing projects throughout B.C.

The Province has also contributed nearly $429 million toward more than 177 projects under the Green Infrastructure stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, with another $836 million committed by the federal government.

Quotes:

Stephen Fuhr, MP for Kelowna, and Secretary of State for Defence Procurement -

"Disaster mitigation measures are more crucial than ever in the face of climate change and extreme weather events. The Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund will support communities like Grand Forks in protecting residents, businesses and infrastructure. The safety of Canadians is our number-one priority, and Canada's government will continue to do everything we can to ensure our communities are prepared and well-equipped to face natural disasters."

Everett Baker, mayor of Grand Forks -

"In the wake of the devastating 2018 flood, we made a commitment to rebuild stronger and reduce the risks posed by future flood events. Today, our neighbourhoods, businesses, industries and critical infrastructure are better protected because of that commitment and the strong partnership between the city, the Province, the federal government and our community. This investment not only enhances public safety but also provides greater confidence and resilience for generations to come."

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A backgrounder follows.