Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
Updated June 17, 2026
Summary
- Floodplain maps show where and how flooding could happen, inform safer decisions for community planning and land development, including construction
- The Province has invested more than $13 million and the federal government has invested more than $12 million to create more accurate flood maps in two phases
- Phase 1 maps focus on communities and areas around the Fraser River basin, Skeena River basin and Columbia River basin
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People and communities in B.C. will be safer and better informed about flood hazards as the first phase of new floodplain maps is completed.
The Province, in partnership with Natural Resources Canada and the Fraser Basin Council, has released new floodplain maps, covering five waterways and 58 communities, under the Government of Canada’s Flood Hazard Identification Mapping Program. This project advances a key action in the B.C. Flood Strategy to help people better understand flood risk.
“Floodplain maps do more than chart where water may go, they reveal where risk lives, reflect how our world is changing and shape how we prepare for the future,” said Randene Neill, B.C.’s Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. “Updating these maps through the mapping program is one more step in implementing the B.C. Flood Strategy. They help turn insight into action and can go a long way in helping communities make informed choices, plan ahead and act quickly if the time comes.”
Floodplain maps show where and how flooding could happen, as well as potential exposure to flooding of the environment, homes, businesses and infrastructure. Similar to tsunami zone maps, floodplain maps show existing hazards.
Having accurate, updated maps helps local governments, First Nations and professionals plan, prevent or mitigate flood damage to their communities and surrounding ecosystems. This includes informing decisions about land-use planning and development, infrastructure investment and emergency management in a changing climate. All people in British Columbia can use flood-hazard information and these new floodplain maps to make risk-informed decisions for themselves and their families.
Insurance companies use their own tools, data and public information about flood risks to decide where overland flood insurance is available. This type of insurance is usually not included in standard home policies. New floodplain maps may make it easier for some people to get coverage. The Province recommends that homeowners contact their insurance provider to find out what overland flood insurance options are available in their area.
Areas included in Phase 1
The floodplain maps are being released in two phases, focusing on main rivers and connecting streams. These maps were created following in-depth engagement with local governments and First Nations in each study area.
Floodplain maps are complete for 58 communities around the following waterways:
- Coquihalla and Fraser rivers from Yale to Mission
- Fraser and Nechako rivers around Prince George and Vanderhoof
- Bulkley and Skeena rivers from Houston to downstream from Terrace
- Shuswap Lake and the mainstem rivers that drain into it
- Upper Columbia and Kicking Horse Rivers, including near Golden and Invermere
Work on Phase 2 floodplain maps is underway.
“Having up-to-date floodplain maps gives people and communities crucial information they need so they can make informed decisions and better prepare themselves in the face of a potential flood,” said Kelly Greene, B.C.’s Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “These maps will support smarter planning and help protect people, homes and critical infrastructure from increasing flood risks.”
Improving flood resilience and response in B.C.
Since 2017, the Province has invested more than $410 million in more than 600 flood risk reduction projects in partnership with First Nations and local governments. This includes more than $13 million from phases 1 and 2 of the Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program.
The Province will continue to work with communities to keep people, homes and businesses safe and flood-resilient throughout B.C.
Work done since 2021 includes:
- stronger communications and co-ordination between the B.C. government and communities to prepare for imminent events, including with Washington state
- stronger monitoring with new monitoring stations installed on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border
- cameras installed on the Canadian side, which allow B.C. to respond proactively to rising flood waters
- expanded use of B.C. Emergency Alerts to include flood events that pose an imminent risk to life
Quotes:
Tim Hodgson, federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources –
“The Government of Canada is proud to support British Columbia in delivering new flood maps that will help local communities better understand and prepare for flood hazards. By working with provinces and territories together, we are strengthening our resilience and ensuring Canadian people have the information they need to make informed decisions and protect their homes, businesses, and infrastructure.”
Aaron Sutherland, vice-president Pacific Region, Insurance Bureau of Canada –
“Improved floodplain mapping is key to increasing our understanding and awareness of the flood risk. By releasing new flood maps, the Province is helping to promote improve land-use decisions and the development of safer, more climate-resilient communities across the province.”
Trevor Koot, chief executive officer, B.C. Real Estate Association –
“The BC Real Estate Association supports efforts to provide property owners and prospective purchasers with more information regarding exposure to potential climate-change-related hazards. When making one of the most important financial decisions of their lives, British Columbians deserve as much transparency as possible.”
Learn More:
- For more information about phases 1 and 2 of the Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program, visit:
https://natural-resources.canada.ca/science-data/science-research/natural-hazards/flood-mapping/flood-hazard-identification-mapping-program - People can find updated research, resources and floodplain maps through the Flood Study Explorer online: https://climatereadybc.gov.bc.ca/
- For the new floodplain maps and the B.C. Flood Study Explorer, visit: https://climatereadybc.gov.bc.ca/pages/flood-study-explorer
- To learn more about floodplain mapping, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/water/drought-flooding-dikes-dams/integrated-flood-hazard-management/governance/flood-hazard-land-use-management/floodplain-mapping
- To learn more about the B.C. Flood Strategy, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/water/drought-flooding-dikes-dams/integrated-flood-hazard-management/bc-flood-strategy
- To learn more about the Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program, visit: https://natural-resources.canada.ca/science-data/science-research/natural-hazards/flood-mapping/flood-hazard-identification-mapping-program
- For more information about how to prepare for floods, including making an emergency plan, visit: https://www.preparedbc.ca/floods
- To learn more about light detection and ranging (LiDAR), visit: https://lidar.gov.bc.ca/
- For more information about flood warnings and high streamflow advisories, visit: https://gov.bc.ca/riverforecast
A backgrounder follows.
