Overview
The potential for flooding exists along all streams and lakes in Alberta. To assist communities in keeping Albertans safe and protecting their properties from floods, the Government of Alberta manages the production of flood studies under the provincial Flood Hazard Identification Program.
Flood studies include detailed engineering reports and flood maps. The engineering reports are typically technical in nature and document the data, assumptions, and results of the hydrologic and hydraulic analyses required to create flood maps. Flood maps are created by combining hydraulic model results for different sized floods with high-accuracy ground information.
Provincial flood studies are prepared using the best tools and information available when a study is conducted and in accordance with technical guidelines and generally accepted engineering practices. Please contact us to obtain the most recent version of the Flood Hazard Identification Program technical guidelines.
About flood maps
Flood maps identify where water will flow during a flood, and what land could be flooded during different sized floods. Most flood maps focus on floods caused by high river flows when water escapes the river channel, most often experienced in spring or following summer rainstorms, but they can also show areas at risk from ice jam floods or document the extent of historic floods.
View the following videos to learn more about river flows and flood mapping:
Provincial flood maps are used by all levels of government, consultants, industry, non-government organizations and the public. Flood maps can inform local land use planning decisions, emergency management operations and sustainable floodplain function initiatives. Flood maps are not available in all communities and flood risks exist in areas without flood mapping.
Types of flood maps
Different types of flood maps serve different purposes. Some flood maps support emergency response during a flood and other flood maps can be used to help build more resilient communities over the long term.
View flood maps
The online Flood Awareness Map Application is the best way to view, interact with, and get more information about final and draft flood maps. The online flood map viewer includes 4 different types of flood maps, but the links below connect directly to draft and final flood hazard and flood inundation maps:
- Final flood hazard maps
- Final flood inundation maps
- Draft flood hazard maps
- Draft flood inundation maps
Switch between different types of flood maps by clicking on the buttons at the top of the screen, manually scroll and zoom to specific areas of interest, or use the search button on the left side of the screen to search for a specific location using a street address, postal code, latitude and longitude coordinates, or legal land description.
Location specific information, including river flow, flood zone, flow regime, water level and flood depth, are available by clicking on any part of a flooded area. When in the flood inundation and flood range map views, switch between smaller and larger floods using the slider on the right side of the screen.
The online flood map viewer also provides detailed information about individual flood studies and includes options to display Alberta Township System and cadastral overlays, use different backgrounds and print summary maps.
Flood map changes
A new approach to mapping floodways and updating flood hazard maps has been adopted in response to the concerns of Albertans and to provide flexibility in how communities across the province address flood hazards. The new approach better balances flood adaptation and resilience priorities and provides expanded flood hazard information to enhance public safety and inform local decision-making.
Contact
Connect with the provincial Flood Hazard Identification Program:
Hours: 8 am to 5 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Email: [email protected]