The recent announcement the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) will require a federal environmental assessment on the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir project has reignited hope in Rocky View County (RVC) that the Province may look at alternative options.
“We are happy they’ve taken that initiative to go ahead with it, and we just hope some strong recommendations come out,” said RVC Reeve Greg Boehlke.
“We’re not in favour of the Springbank dry dam project in the first place, so every bit of evidence we can get against it is good.”
The Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir, which is designed to work as a dry dam unless flood conditions are present, will work in tandem with the Glenmore Reservoir in Calgary. The two will have a combined storage capacity that would accommodate water volumes equal to the 2013 flood.
At the beginning of June, council voted to send a submission to the CEAA supporting a federal review of the project, outlining a number of concerns with the project that Boehlke said would require a full environmental assessment – including the need for an independent look at the proposal and the potential physical and psychological impacts for RVC.
“People don’t even realize how big this project is – it encompasses 6,000 acres of land – and they are saying that probably seven times in 10 years, it will be flooded,” Boehlke said.
“When it’s flooded, it will bring in inorganic silt – with no apparent clean-up plan to deal with it after the water drains and the land dries out again.”
Dust, impacts to groundwater, and the sterilization of some of the County’s most productive farmland are some of the more “paramount” issues RVC has with the off-stream reservoir project. Boehlke added there would likely be an impact on wildlife in the area, including local fish and birds.
“It’s poorly thought out, and hopefully the government will reconsider,” he said. “McLean Creek is the place to go with this project, and they already own the land. Flexibility on behalf of all governments is important – sometimes, you make plans and you just have to make adjustments as you go. This is one I really think needs some adjusting.”
Boehlke added no matter which direction the Province decides to go as a result of the assessment, he hopes RVC will continue to be informed and involved.
“The formal announcement of this project was made with the Mayor of Calgary and a minister from the Province,” Boehlke said.
“It’s on our land, and we weren’t even considered. We need to be in the inner circle on this – at least with information, but also, hopefully, influence.”
RVC’s letter to the CEAA is available on the County’s website at rockyview.ca
