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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
VICTORIA
– Forty flood protection projects in
various communities across the province are now underway under the first phase
of the 10-year, $100-million British Columbia Flood Protection Program,
Minister of Public Safety John Les announced today.
“This funding
will help communities address existing flood concerns and adapt to the real and
growing threat of increased flooding related to climate change,” said Les. “By
doing this work now, we are taking proactive steps to prevent emergencies
rather than just responding to them.”
Communities on
Vancouver Island and from the Fraser Valley to the Bulkley Valley are
benefiting from a wide variety of mitigation projects, including:
·
new flood protection
structures like a flood water debris trap on Buck Creek near Houston;
·
improvements to existing
infrastructure, such as adding large rocks to armour the bank of Toby Creek
near Invermere;
·
gravel and sediment
removal projects on the Bear River near Stewart and the Kicking Horse River
near Golden; and
·
flood plain management
planning, such as the flood risk-analysis study in Prince George.
Eligible costs
under the multi-year program include design and engineering work, materials and
labour. Program funding for 2007/08 is now fully allocated and projects are
expected to be completed by March 31, 2008. A formal call for project
applications for 2008/09 will go to local governments in the coming months.
“The Province and local governments have identified
flood protection as a priority, and we are acting now to reduce the flood risk
in our communities,” said Les. “This is a partnership program, and all levels
of government involved will have a role in its success. To that end, we
will continue to work to bring Ottawa on-board as a contributor to this
program.”
The
Province selected flood protection projects to fund in fiscal 2007/08 from two
sources. In spring 2007, a call for urgent flood protection projects drew
applications from local governments. After the spring flood event, local
governments and provincial staff identified other urgent projects in areas with
historic flooding issues or new, emerging flood threats.
All
municipal governments, regional districts, diking districts and electoral areas
may apply for funding under the British Columbia Flood Protection Program to
build new flood protection works or improve existing ones. Ongoing management,
operation and maintenance of new or existing flood protection works remain the
responsibility of the local authority.
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contact: |
Communications Manager Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General 250 952-4846 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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