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Residents vow to continue fight against SR1 during information session

“Giving up on this SR1 now would continue to expose the region to flooding for at least eight or nine or ten years,” McIver said. “It’s been seven years without flood mitigation. We cannot afford to go another seven years.”
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Minster of Transportation Ric McIver answers questions from residents about the SR1 project on Thursday (Oct. 8). (Chelsea Kemp/The Cochrane Eagle)

BRAGG CREEK— An information session on the proposed Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir was met with anger and distrust from residents on Thursday (Oct. 8).

The Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir, also known as SR1,  session featured a panel of experts, Minister of Transportation Ric McIver and Banff-Kananaskis MLA Miranda Rosin speaking at the Bragg Creek Community Centre.

During the session, Rosin said she was grateful to see the community gather to learn about and share their concerns about the SR1 project.

“I know how important this project is to you and the community,” Rosin said. She added since first running in the provincial election flood mitigation in the Bragg Creek and Springbank areas has been the top concern of residents.

SR1 is currently moving through the regulatory process at the provincial and federal levels, McIver said.  The 2013 flood caused billions of dollars in damage and SR1 and other flood mitigation projects are designed to save money in the future.

The project is projected to cost around $432 million and is eligible for $168.5 million under the Government of Canada's Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund. McIver added about 25 per cent of the land needed for the project has been acquired.

The reservoir is one of several planned flood mitigation projects for southern Alberta— Including berms in Bragg Creek delivered by Rocky View County and the potential for another project in the Redwood Meadows area.

“SR1 is not a silver bullet, it’s part of a larger system, by itself it’s not going to get the job done,” McIver said.

He noted SR1 was selected as a flood mitigation project because it has a shorter construction period, lower risk, reduced environmental impact, it is located downstream on the Elbow River and has a lower cost in comparison to other proposed projects.

McIver cautioned changing plans now could add years to the project when a reservoir has been needed since 2013.

“Giving up on this SR1 now would continue to expose the region to flooding for at least eight or nine or ten years,” McIver said. “It’s been seven years without flood mitigation. We cannot afford to go another seven years.”

SR1 will be located approximately 15 km west of Calgary, said Project manager Matthew Hebert. Key components of the project include a diversion structure, floodplain berm, diversion channel, dam and low-level outlet. The reservoir will activate when the water reaches 160m3/s and it can hold up to 77.2 million m3 in storage.

During the session, many residents took to the mic to question the transparency, cost, size, benefits and disruption created by SR1.

Elbow River Estates Community Association president Gordon Lang raised concerns regarding the pollution that could be created by the project when the reservoir sits empty.

Lang said he lives downwind of the proposed project and is concerned sediment will be released into the air affecting residents.

“I’m extremely disappointed to hear that the SR1 has been approved essentially,” Lang said. “I know we’ve got a dictator in Ottawa— I didn’t realize we have one in Edmonton.”

Environmental management principal Dave Brescia said the dam has been designed to match the water levels of the 2013 flood and will leave behind low amounts of sediment. He added the area will be carefully watched after a flood to ensure revegetation is taking place as planned and limited sediment is present.

Highland Stock Farm owner Rob Matthews said he thinks the provincial government is failing to listen to residents and their concerns.

“All of us that live in this community are trying to understand how you can say to us that it’s going to be cheaper to do SR1 than it is up at McLean Creek and Allen Bill Pond,” Matthews said. “It just doesn’t make sense.”

Matthews added McLean Creek is a better option for SR1 because there would be no need to purchase land and fewer roadways would be affected.

He also questioned the province's claim that they have talked to all affected landowners.

“You haven’t talked to half of the landowners in that area,” Matthews exclaimed. “These are my friends that I grew up with that their land is being sacrificed— They have not been asked if they would like to sell their lands.”

Debbie Vickery from Springbank spoke at the session and said it has been disappointing to see residents are not being consulted.

“We are the people who live here— Not you,” Vickery said. “This is our home and you guys sign a piece of paper and say it’s OK— It’s not OK.”

The community has rallied together against SR1, she said, and is questioning why McLean Creek does not work as an alternative option.

Natural systems design engineer Matt Wood said the decision to choose SR1 happened some years ago, and there are several reasons why it was chosen over McLean Creek. These include SR1 close proximity to Calgary, a larger catchment area to catch water from floods beyond the snowpack, a shorter construction timeline, fewer risks, lower estimated costs and a lower environmental impact.

Echoing Vickery's concerns, George Brindle said the SR1 process has been extremely disappointing for residents— Especially because it has been challenging to connect with Rosin to raise concerns about the project.

“This is money being spent to benefit a few people,” Brindle said. “This proposed project benefits a handful of voters who knowingly, willingly built and bought in a flood plain— They knew the risk and they’ve come to us to ask them to pay for their foolish behaviour.”

Springbank Community Association president Karin Hunter called for transparency for the project and its associated costs. She noted the projected figure does not include the money paid to Tsuut’ina First Nation and Rocky View County and the cost of working with pipelines and moving roads.

“You seem to presume that there’s no choice, you have to continue with SR1— It’s too late, it’s been too long,” Hunter said. “There’s always a choice to make the right decision … We will continue to fight this project, we will see you at the regulatory hearings and we will continue to raise the issues and represent our community.”

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