Province Invests in Flood Mitigation

Numerous announcements over the past few months have demonstrated the BC Government's commitment to mitigating the impacts of flooding. Funding for projects in specific communities ranges from dike upgrades to risk assessments. In May, the province pledged $1 million to support the second phase of the Lower Mainland Flood Management Strategy, which is a collaborative effort among 27 local governments (www.floodstrategy.ca).

BCREA is particularly pleased with the Government's commitment to the development of flood hazard mapping practice guidelines by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC. As the Association has advocated for several years, floodplain maps are part of the foundation for effective flood management, and a consistent approach to mapping will help ensure comparability across jurisdictions.

The Association hopes the guidelines will also provide local governments—many of which have limited resources and expertise in this area—with tools to help them choose professionals to undertake the work and to clearly understand what to expect from those professionals.

To learn more about the provincial government's recent investments, search for "flood" in the BC Newsroom.