Flood mitigation studies

Engineering studies

Draft reports on engineering studies to review and assess flood mitigation options for Alberta's most flood-prone river basins.

Provincial Flood Damage Assessment Study

• Provincial Flood Damage Assessment Study
  This study updated/developed flood damage curves in select communities at risk of flooding to 2014 economic values and established adjustment indices for their use in different flood prone communities across Alberta. It also developed a computerized model for estimating flood damages and undertook flood damage estimates for select communities throughout Alberta.

• Provincial Flood Damage Assessment Study: City of Calgary: Assessment of Flood Damages
  The City of Calgary was identified as a high priority centre and selected as the pilot municipality for the updating of flood damage curves and development of a Rapid Flood Damage Assessment Model.

Benefit-cost analysis of flood mitigation projects for the City of Calgary

• Glenmore Reservoir Diversion
  A benefit-cost analysis of the Glenmore Reservoir Diversion was conducted using updated flood damage curves developed through the Provincial Flood Damage Assessment Study.

• McLean Creek Flood Storage
  A benefit-cost analysis of the McLean Creek Dry Dam was conducted using updated flood damage curves developed through the Provincial Flood Damage Assessment Study.

• Springbank Off-Stream Flood Storage
  A benefit-cost analysis of the Springbank Off-stream Reservoir was conducted using updated flood damage curves developed through the Provincial Flood Damage Assessment Study.

Forecasting, damage/hazard assessments, and other flood-related studies

• Advice to Government on Water Management in the Bow River Basin
  Report author: Bow River Working Group
  
  Advice from the Bow River Working Group for water management in the Bow River Basin.

• Environmental Overview of the Conceptual Elbow River Dam at McLean Creek
  Engineering consultant: AMEC
  
  The environmental overview of the proposed McLean Creek Dry Dam summarizes the environmental resources and associated land uses that could be affected if this project were to be developed.

• Recommendations on the Elbow River Major Infrastructure Decisions
  Report author: Alberta Environment and Parks
  
  This report summarizes the recommendations from Deltares on Elbow River flood mitigation.

• Review of Bragg Creek/Springbank Off-Stream and McLean Creek Flood Storage
  Engineering consultant: Deltares
  
  This study reviewed two major projects proposed for the Elbow River and provides a recommendation on which project to take forward to construction-ready status.

• Review of Flood Mitigation Proposals for High River
  Engineering consultant: Deltares
  
  This study reviewed two key flood mitigation reports (from AECOM and Worley Parson) and provides an evaluation of flood mitigation alternatives for High River.

• River Forecast Centre Lessons Learned Summary Report
  Consultant: Dillon Consulting
  
  River Forecast Centre partners were engaged in discussions regarding the 2013 floods events in order to gain a better understanding of what occurred in each community, how each group responded, and what they have learned.

• River Forecast Performance Measures Development Project
  Consultant: Stantec
  
  This report examines the background, approach, methods and summary of the performance measures of several flood forecast centres in North America, Europe and South Pacific to help assess the flood forecasting program in Alberta.

• Room for the River Pilot in the Bow River Basin
  Consultant: Alberta WaterSMART
  
  A pilot project was undertaken in the Bow River Basin to consider the extent to which strategies from the Dutch Room for the River program could be adapted and applied here in Alberta.

• Weather Forecast Review Project for Operational Open-water River Forecasting
  Consultant: AMEC
  
  This study examines the uncertainties in weather forecasting and proposes a method the River Forecast Centre can use to manage those uncertainties when modelling rainfall scenarios and issuing flood advisories.

River basin studies

Final engineering studies to review and assess flood mitigation options for Alberta's most flood-prone river basins.

Athabasca River

• Feasibility Study - Athabasca River Basins
  Engineering consultants: Golder Associates and IBI Group

Bow, Elbow and Oldman rivers

• Southern Alberta Flood Recovery Task Force Flood Mitigation Measures for the Bow River, Elbow River and Oldman River Basins
  Engineering consultant: AMEC

Additional information

The City of Calgary released the final report on the Glenmore Reservoir Diversion Feasibility Study. This study was funded by the Alberta government and directed by the City of Calgary.

• Flood mitigation and resilience projects (PDF, 13.3 MB)

Highwood, Sheep and South Saskatchewan rivers

Highwood River

• Highwood River Water Management Plan
  Engineering consultant: AECOM

Sheep River

• Sheep River Water Management Plan
  Engineering consultant: AECOM

South Saskatchewan River

• South Saskatchewan River Sub-Basin Water Management Plan
  Engineering consultant: AECOM

Peace River

• Peace River Basin Flood Mitigation Feasibility Study
  Engineering consultant: AECOM

Red Deer River

• Red Deer River Basin Flood Mitigation Study
  Engineering consultant: Stantec