Mapping and risk assessment projects will be done in flood-prone areas of central Alberta, including Red Deer, Stettler and Lacombe.
The federal government is providing $8.7 million through the National Disaster Mitigation Program for 18 projects. They include new or replacement flood mapping for Drumheller, Medicine Hat, Siksika Nation, Red Deer and more than 100 kilometres of the North Saskatchewan River, including Edmonton.
The province is contributing more than $5 million to the projects as part of the cost-sharing agreement.
“Our government is committed to investing in flood resilience to better protect Albertans where they live and work,” said Alberta Environment and Parks Minister Shannon Phillips.
The projects will allow communities to identify, plan for, and reduce flood risks.
Provincial and federal funding will also be used to assess the potential for debris floods near Canmore, stormwater risk in Calgary and flood potential in Manning, Stettler, Lacombe and the Municipal District of Crowsnest Pass.
Projects to improve forecasting and warning systems and improve access and interaction with provincial flood-inundation maps also received funding.
Alberta has launched 13 river hazard studies since 2015. They will produce new and replacement flood mapping for more than 1,300 kilometres of river through more than 30 communities.
Since 2013, the Alberta government has invested more than $700 million for projects in erosion control, upstream storage, flood mapping, flood forecasting and emergency preparedness and watershed health.
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