First-Ever BC Flood Forum Held
By 250 News
Nechako icejam now stretches west of the Foothills Bridge (Opinion250 photo)
More than 130 representatives attended the first-ever Flood Forum organized by the Fraser Basin Council in Vancouver this past week...
The main message to emerge: flexibility is key to flood prevention, and so is an integrated approach. "Recent flooding in BC is a compelling reminder of why all governments need to work together on a long-term, collaborative flood plan for BC," says Council Chair Dr. Charles Jago.
"Flood is an ongoing concern, and we’ve seen examples in northern communities, including icejam flooding on the Nechako this winter and the potential for flood on the Lower Fraser last spring," says Jago. "The time was right for everyone to take stock of what is know about flood risks, how best to manage those risks and how to ensure effective emergency response."
The forum attracted officials from local, regional, First Nations, provincial and federal governments and utility companies. B.C. Solicitor-General John Les outlined his government’s recently announced Flood Protection Program -- a $100-million dollar investment over the next 10-years for flood protection -- and discussed the invitation for federal cost-sharing in the program.
"No single solution can adequately protect communities," says the Manager of the Fraser Basin Council’s flood hazard program.
Steve Litke says "Diking and drainage systems are critical in many areas, for example, but land-use decisions at the local level are also important to limit the risk in flood-prone areas."
Litke notes that flood information has improved, but says more work is needed, "A broad network of water monitoring stations, flood computer models, floodplain maps, and assessments of community risk and vulnerability are all needed to make good plans, sound decisions and wise investments."
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Seems the trick to prevention would be to find honest answers as to why it is happening,and then deal with the infrastucture to prevent it.
The B.C. government also needs to deal with issues on crown land as well,to protect communities.
Many blame it on global warming raising the mean temperatures, but there must be other factors to.
Warmer temperatures,logging,construction that maybe changes the water table when new subdivisons are built etc.?
Who knows.
And with the Kenny Dam,the need for power may be putting more water thru the turbines and into the river,raising the level..or not?
Whatever the reasons,it is become a bigger problem than it has been in years past everywhere it would appear.
Hopefully some answers will come from this forum.