The Province has awarded more than $5 million in funding to the Town of Cochrane to start working on a number of mitigation and erosion control projects planned for the Jumpingpound Creek and the Bow River, on March 17.
The funding was awarded to Cochrane by the department of Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development through the 2013 Flood Recovery Erosion Control (FREC) program.
The June 2013 flood caused major overland flooding that destroyed many sections of southern Alberta towns and cities, such as parts of High River, Bragg Creek, City of Calgary, Canmore and Cochrane.
“These funds will help us with erosion control and mitigation work to help us be prepared for future situations,” said Ivan Brooker, mayor of the Town of Cochrane.
“We appreciate the province’s assistance to get this work done as soon as possible.”
According to the department of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, as a result of the flood, significant erosion damage was sustained on many of the river and stream banks across Alberta.
The magnitude of erosion damage is such that it has altered the landscape and is, in some cases, threatening provincial, municipal, residential or commercial infrastructure.
On Aug. 9, 2013, the Government of Alberta dedicated funds to help restore damaged and at-risk lands in flood-affected communities. The Government of Alberta originally committed $20 million in immediate financial support to help fund some immediate critical erosion control priorities.
The money allotted to Cochrane will be used to fund three projects: armouring the banks along Jumpingpound Creek under the bridge on George Fox Trail, reinforcing the banks of the Jumpingpound from the George Fox Trail bridge to the Bow River, and potential berm construction along the Bow River by the water treatment plant and downstream from the Jumpingpound.
Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Robin Campbell thanked the Town in a letter for its leadership in facilitating the community’s quick recovery.
“Your dedication is appreciated as we work together to get Albertans’ lives back to normal,” he said.
The total grant from the province is $5,045,413.
Work plans are being developed and work will proceed as soon as all approvals are received.
A start date for when the work is expected to be completed was not known as of press time.
For more information on the 2013 Flood Recovery Erosion Control (FREC) program, visit www.alberta.ca
