2022 Flood Preparedness – Information Provided by The City of Calgary
This spring, we’re seeing high snowpack up in the mountains. The
long-term forecast from Environment and Climate Change Canada shows
below average spring temperatures and average to below average
precipitation heading into summer.
While a melting snowpack will increase river flows, it alone does not
cause river flooding in Calgary. Heavy, multi-day rainfalls upstream of
the city are the main cause of river flooding and can account for 80
per cent or more of the river flow during a flood.
These large rainfalls typically happen from mid-May to mid-July and
can be challenging to predict in the mountain areas where we may only
have 24 hours or less to confirm what’s coming. That’s why it’s
important Calgarians are ready for flooding anytime during the season,
possibly on short notice.
There’s lots of great resources on calgary.ca/floodinfo to
help residents understand their flood risk with our online interactive
maps, what steps they can take to be prepared for flooding and links to
useful resources to help them stay informed throughout the season.
We also have a river conditions dial on the website, which provides
Calgarians with a quick snapshot of the daily river conditions during
high river flow season (May 15- July 15).
Every flood season we send out a weekly e-newsletter to share current
river conditions, along with information on flood mitigation projects
and tips so residents are well informed throughout the season. We’ll be
resuming our flood season e-newsletter in May. Please help us spread the
word and share this link with your community to subscribe for the flood e-newsletter as one way to stay up to date.
Over the past weeks, the DRCA has continued to advocate on behalf of our special community and has been in contact with both Enmax and Alberta Transportation (AT) regarding their notices of tree removal in the Transportation Utility Corridor (TUC) as part of the West Calgary Ring Road Project (www.westringroad.ca). Specifically, we raised concerns with regard to the lack of time between the notices and work commencing, as well as attempting to seek some agreement that potentially all of the trees in the highlighted zones did not really need to be removed. Enmax, who was instructed to complete this work by AT, clarified for us that only a few trees would need to be removed from the highlighted area in their notice. AT, however, stated that all trees in the zone in their notice would need to be removed and refused to engage in any productive conversation with regard to this decision changing. We requested an on-site meeting and this too was refused.
We also reached out to our MLA Mike Ellis’ office and our Councillor Richard Pootmans’ office for assistance. They too received the same responses from Enmax and AT. Despite our request for further consultation on the issue, both Enmax and AT went ahead and removed the trees.
Once the TUC work is completed, we intend to ask Enmax and AT for new tree planting in areas that will not risk any damage to underground utilities. We would like to thank residents who reached out to Enmax, AT, MLA Mike Ellis and Councillor Richard Pootmans to share their concerns. This assisted in ensuring the severity of our concerns were understood.
Information provided from the City of Calgary for the community of Discovery Ridge
Over the next several weeks our neighbours, the Tsuut’ina Nation, will construct fencing along a portion of the northern border of the Nation’s land extending from Rocky View County to Stoney Trail S.W.
In preparation for fence construction, the Nation has been working closely with The City of Calgary, the Ward 6 Councillor office, and the Discovery Ridge Community Association to ensure minimal disturbance within the community and to local wildlife.
Why is fencing needed?
From the early-to mid-1900s, the Canadian Military used a portion of the Tsuut’ina Nation lands as a firing range as well as for training exercises, leaving behind unexploded ordnance or UXO (including bombs, bullets and shells).
In the 1940s and 1950s, there were a number of incidences where these UXO were uncovered and went off resulting in serious injuries. UXO surfaced on Nation land after the 2013 floods and more have been uncovered as recently as last spring, demonstrating that the UXO still pose safety risks today.
In order to prevent similar instances from happening again and noting that many people are not aware of the Tsuut’ina Nation boundary, the Nation is building the fence to prevent accidental trespassing and help keep people safe.
Will the fence affect local wildlife?
The fence will be constructed high enough that animals will not attempt to jump over and there is sufficient spacing to ensure nothing will get caught in the fence. Water crossings will still be available to wildlife moving through the area.
Could flooding create debris pileups along the fence?
The Nation has managed this land for thousands of years and knows that the river can be unpredictable as it changes with the seasons. As a result, they will not build fencing in areas where there is a risk it could wash away and there won’t be any fencing in the majority of places where debris pileup may occur. The fence will be set back roughly 10 metres from the river’s edge and approximately 5 metres from banks of solid ground.
What is the construction timeline?
Brushing and hand clearing in the area will begin in mid-to late-January.
Fence construction is set to begin in early February. Construction will begin in the west by the Elbow Springs Golf Course and then move east toward Griffith Woods Park and then on to Stoney Trail S.W.
Fence construction should be complete by the end of March.
The Nation is working hard to ensure all work can be done from their property in the south as they do not want the construction work to disturb the Discovery Ridge community or users of Griffith Woods Park. Should any work need to be done in the community, the Nation is committed to keeping disturbance to a minimum.
The Tsuut’ina Nation is the sovereign owner of the land (including the Elbow River) beyond the Tsuut’ina/City of Calgary boundary line. Exploring any further than this line, including along the riverbanks and into the river, is trespassing on Nation property. Please help respect our neighbours and do not try to cross the fence/boundary line into Nation lands.
On December 15th, the DRCA held an online Crime Prevention session
with our Calgary Police Service community resource officer. We had over
50 residents attend the session and had some very good questions. We
encourage all residents to watch the edited one hour video and nightly
implement the 9 pm home routine as posted on our website to help prevent
crime. https://youtu.be/Kap9VkSQlbk
Given recent crime activity in the community, the DRCA has organized an online session with our Calgary Police Service.
Please join us online on this Wednesday Dec. 15th from 6:30-8:00pm where we will be joined by our Community Resource Officer to discuss Crime Prevention.
This webcast will be taped and the link posted on the DRCA website if you cannot attend.
Please register for the event through Eventbrite with details:
Prior to December 15, please complete the form below regarding the perception of crime and safety in the community. Results will be shared at the meeting:
