Flooding remains a problem for residents of Bearspaw, according to a presentation to Rocky View County (RVC) council.
At a regular meeting Oct. 6, Doug Hafichuk, manager of Capital Projects, provided council with background information on stormwater management challenges within the community of Bearspaw.
“Bearspaw experiences routine flooding from meltwater and significant seasonal rains,” Hafichuk said. “Most of the community has experienced some level of challenges with stormwater management.”
These issues can range from minor encroachment of stormwater onto private property to major flooding that threatens homes and roads, he said.
“When both happen at the same time, it gets particularly difficult,” Hafichuk said.
He said the primary challenges facing the area are a lack of outlets to move stormwater out of the community, topography that traps water, annual fluctuations with the local water table and timing, frequency and intensity of events.
RVC administration has identified two options for stormwater management in Bearspaw, Hafichuk said. Trucking water works for smaller areas, but he said pumping water is a more effective option.
“Pumping is highly dependent on whether we have a receiving body to move the water to,” he said. “In a case like we saw in 2020, where just about all of the pond levels were at or exceeding capacity, there simply wasn’t anywhere to move the water to.”
Addressing flooding in the area also depends on the availability of labour, equipment and funding. According to Hafichuk’s presentation, minor events can cost between $5,000 and $10,000 while major events can cost more than $100,000. He added the County’s annual emergency pumping budget is $180,000.
“The budget for the 2017 emergency pumping along Meadow Drive was $150,000,” he said. “We did spend about $145,000 of that.”
Hafichuk noted two capital construction projects to address flooding exist that are “the most shovel ready” but won’t be finished for some time. The first is a gravity outlet at Meadow Drive planned for 2022. The project would provide direct relief for residents in the area and also offer an outlet that land upstream could connect to. Hafichuk said detailed design has been completed, and the project carries a cost of $3.6 million, excluding land costs.
The second project is a mechanical/gravity outlet at Burma Road and Range Road 25 that would cost $900,000. According to Hafichuk, the project would provide relief for residents of Timber Ridge, Silverwoods and Alexa Close. He said the preliminary design of the project is complete but there currently is no timeline for completion.
After council unanimously accepted Hafichuk’s presentation for information, Area Coun. Samanntha Wright moved to add both the Bearspaw Meadow Drive project and the Burma Road project to RVC’s 2021 Capital Plan and to direct administration to explore the potential for a stormwater levy in Bearspaw.
“There is no dispute that water is a problem in Bearspaw,” Wright said. “The report speaks to the lack of outlets being the biggest concern.”
She added if the area was to see precipitation similar to this year, pumping would be necessary.
“This is a solution that will help hundreds of county residents,” she said.
Chief Administrative Officer Al Hoggan noted administration had only meant to provide background information to council about flooding in Bearspaw and was not prepared for capital budget considerations.
“If council wants to go down the road of capital budgets, we would request some time so we can put together a capital budget together for council so we could revisit that later in the day,” he said. “Currently, we are not prepared to talk about capital budgets; that was not on the agenda to be discussed today.”
Wright’s motions were defeated 7-2, with only Coun. Crystal Kissel joining her in support.
Coun. Jerry Gautreau said he couldn’t support the motions because council doesn’t know what other projects will be placed on the 2021 Capital Plan.
“If this comes forward when we are talking budgets and we are looking at all capital projects then maybe this can come back on the board and I can support it at that time,” he said.
Jordan Stricker, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @Jay_Strickz
