Calgary prepared for flood, if it were to happen again
Posted May 10, 2020 9:22 am.
Last Updated May 11, 2020 8:06 am.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) — It’s the time of year when many Calgarians start watching river levels, but the city wants you to know that they are ready for a flood even during the middle of a pandemic.
During one of the COVID-19 updates, city officials talked about river levels and snowpack, and what’s been done over the last seven years to stop a repeat of the catastrophic 2013 flood.
The city says from now until mid-July is peak flood season, but officials say they’ve reduced Calgary’s flood risk by approximately half with things like permanent flood barriers at strategic spots across Calgary.
But river engineer Sandra Davis with the City of Calgary says the biggest difference is an $82-million project on the Glenmore Dam.
“On the Elbow River, we’ve completed the installation of 21 steel gates across the crest of the Glenmore Dam. These gates are 2 1/2 metres high and they double the amount of water storage volume in the reservoir,” Davis said.
She says both the Elbow and Bow Rivers are running higher right now due to a higher than average snowpack, but it is heavy rainfall events in May, June or even July that are the main driver of flooding
In addition, there are six permanent flood barriers set up, including at the lower deck of the Centre Street bridge, the Calgary Zoo, and Inglewood.
As for dealing with flooding during a pandemic, Mayor Naheed Nenshi sums up what many Calgarians are likely thinking.
“I would still be extremely unhappy if we had a major flood event during a pandemic. That would be it for me,” Nenshi said.
For all of the latest flood information, all the details will be posted on the city’s website.
