On February 26, 2016, more than $17 million in Alberta Community Resilience Grants were announced for seven municipalities in southern Alberta. The grants will fund work to protect critical municipal water management infrastructure and improve storm water drainage and retention in several communities.
“It’s critical to invest in our local flood defenses to ensure people are safe, infrastructure is protected, and businesses continue to operate without interruption,” said Premier Notley.
Chestermere has been included in the group of communities that will be receiving the funding – to the tune of $591,500 to improve the Westmere storm pond. “After receiving approximately ten inches of rain in five hours on July 12, 2015 Chestermere experienced widespread flooding and hundreds of residents reported extensive damage to their homes. In the weeks following the event, City and Chestermere Utilities Inc. (CUI) officials looked at what could be done to improve the current infrastructure to better handle major flooding events in the future”, said the City of Chestermere in their press release.
Flooding in June 2014 affected several communities in southern Alberta. Many of these communities are receiving Alberta Community Resilience Program grants in this funding cycle.
Projects approved for funding include:
Relocation of the raw water intake, infiltration gallery, and pump system in Pincher Creek;
Construction of a dry diversion pond and wetland complex in Lethbridge County, west of Coaldale, for stormwater retention in the Malloy Basin;
Relocation of the raw water infiltration gallery in Cardston;
Construction of a stormwater drainage ditch and wetland detention system along the northern boundary of Magrath;
Construction of the Frog Creek Stormwater Management Facility in Claresholm;
Construction of a drainage ditch and retention system south of Raymond to divert stormwater into a Raymond Irrigation District reservoir; and
Enhancements to an existing berm surrounding the City of Lethbridge’s water treatment plant.
The Alberta Community Resilience Program will provide $500 million in grant funding over 10 years to municipalities, special areas, improvement districts, First Nations and Métis Settlements to help ensure public safety and protect critical municipal infrastructure. The next submissions deadline for the Alberta Community Resilience Program is September 30, 2016.
“We are very grateful for this funding from the provincial government and the opportunity to access it in such an expedient manner,” said Chestermere Mayor Patricia Matthews. “This grant will allow us to significantly improve our infrastructure and ensure that we make Chestermere more flood resistant and resilient in the future.”
Following the announcement, City and CUI staff can move forward with coordinating construction. Project components include the installation of a permanent pump with a backup generator to direct excess water into the ditch, which will also be regraded to allow improved water flow away from the pond. The other part of the project will be to add a culvert under Chestermere Boulevard to prevent excess water from flooding the roadway.
Construction is expected to wrap up by the end of this year.
