Summary

• Flood-mitigation projects protect neighbourhoods and critical infrastructure, address environmental concerns and safeguard aquatic ecosystems
• The Province has committed more than $19 million to projects addressing flood hazards in southeastern B.C.
• The projects are part of the Province’s investment of more than $410 million in approximately 600 flood-risk reduction projects since 2017 with local governments and First Nations

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People, neighbourhoods and businesses in southeastern B.C. communities are more resilient to the impact of floods with the completion of flood-mitigation projects supported by the Province.

“These timely investments in flood-risk reduction are critical to for the East Kootenay region, where people are now able to see the completed results,” said Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “This is tangible evidence of the progress being made throughout the province to address climate-caused hazards before disasters happen. These projects are only possible through our close partnerships with local communities.”

Greene is visiting completed flood-mitigation projects this week in Fernie, Invermere, Fairmont Hot Springs and Canal Flats.

Flood-mitigation works create safer communities

• In Fernie, critical infrastructure is better protected from flooding with upgrades to the Mountview dike and the Coal Creek retaining wall where Coal Creek joins the Elk River. More than 500 metres of the Mountview dike along the Elk River was raised to meet current standards and protect the Mountview neighbourhood. This project was funded with approximately $2.8 million from the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF).

• In Invermere, the Province provided more than $1.9 million toward improvements to the Toby Creek dike. The Athalmer neighborhood of Invermere is a low-lying area immediately adjacent to Toby Creek at the confluence with the Columbia River. When flooding or ice jams occur in the creek, water or ice may cause damage in the neighbourhood. This $3-million project raised the dike elevations along Toby Creek to withstand one-in-200-year flows. 

• In Fairmont Hot Springs, the community’s debris-flow risk from Cold Spring Creek has been greatly reduced with the construction of a structure to capture and safely manage material from major storm events. A key feature is a debris-flow barrier designed to contain as much as 84,000 cubic metres of debris – approximately a 300-to-1,000-year return period event. The barrier is about eight metres tall and 135 metres long, with an outlet fitted with steel bars to trap debris while allowing water to pass. This project was led by the Regional District of East Kootenay. The Province contributed nearly $5.2 million toward the total project cost of $13.6 million.

• In Canal Flats, the village upgraded the existing flood-protection dike to meet updated flood construction levels with future climate considerations in mind. The previous dike structure protected the community to the approximately one-in-20-year flood level. The upgraded structure provides protection up to the one-in-200-year flood level and protects critical community infrastructure. The project was funded with more than $618,000 from the Province.

• In Golden, the Province provided more than $1.2 million from the CEPF for dike improvements along the Kicking Horse River. The project raises dikes along the Kicking Horse River to as much as one metre above the one-in-200-year flood elevation. Ice jams during the winter and high water during the summer have threatened flooding in Golden over the past several years. The project includes rock armouring, dike face reshaping, vegetation removal and restoration, and fish habitat restoration.

Upcoming dam replacement in Cranbrook, upgrade in Invermere

• Scheduled for completion in 2028, a new Gold Creek dam in Cranbrook will be built to a higher elevation than the existing dam, doubling the available water for the city to meet future water demands. It will also include allowances for fish passage, create a healthier aquatic ecosystem and avoid the need to remove sediment that accumulates upstream of the existing dam. The project received more than $5 million from the CEPF.

• A second project in Invermere to upgrade the Paddy Ryan Middle dam will break ground in spring 2026. The project will raise the height of the dam and improve spillway capacity. The Province provided $2.4 million from the CEPF for this project that is expected to be completed in 2027.

Disaster preparedness throughout B.C.

Since 2017, the Province has provided more than $550 million for more than 2,800 disaster preparedness and mitigation projects administered through the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.

It includes approximately $340 million provided to First Nations and local governments for about 2,600 projects through the CEPF.

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. To date, about $27 million has been committed for ongoing projects throughout B.C.

Learn More:

• For more information about the Disaster Resilience and Innovation Funding program and how to apply, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-management/local-emergency-programs/financial/drif 
• For information about the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, visit: https://www.ubcm.ca/cepf
• For information about disaster- and climate-risk reduction and available supports, visit: https://www.ClimateReadyBC.ca

A backgrounder follows.