The Alberta Government’s Southern Alberta Flood Recovery Task Force (SAFRTF) has hired an engineering firm - AMEC Environment & Infrastructure - to identify and evaluate options for the storage of flood water from the Elbow River basin.
Work began on March 17, with a series of holes drilled in an area near Springbank Road and Range Road 40 - about halfway between Calaway Park and Highway 22.
The holes are part of preliminary work to determine soil conditions to see if the concept of building a diversion channel and berm to retain flood water would be practical in the area.
“The area has been identified as a possible flood mitigation option, that will involve looking at the Bow River Basin as well as the Old Man (River) and the Bow (River),” Jason Penner, public affairs officer with the Flood Recovery Task Force, said.
“They will be taking soil samples to identify if the soil type is conducive with the type of programs (storage facility and a berm),” he added.
“That’s only after we take the soil samples and see if the soil is the right type.”
A total of about 20 drill holes are planned, approximately 500 metres apart. A drilling rig vehicle will be used to drill holes ranging from eight to 25 metres in depth and 15 to 20 centimetres in diameter. The holes will be backfilled after completion. Standpipes will be installed to allow for ground-water monitoring.
“Land owners were notified of (crews) using the land to do the drilling and soil sampling (before the work began), Penner said.
Penner explained that he couldn’t comment on the noise or disturbance to residents in the nearby area, but he said he believed that the procedures would be low-impact to the residents.
The SAFRTF decision is expected in late April as to whether the Task Force will move forward on the two projects and if the area’s soil is conducive to the projects.
For more information on the drilling or the Flood Task Force, visit www.alberta.ca
