Policy & Positions Manual

National Issues - Environment

Flooding Prevention (2008)

Flooding in BC has increased dramatically over the last five years with a trend towards more severe cases. Terrace, Smithers, Prince George, New Westminster, Fort Langley, and the Fraser Valley are just a few of the major affected areas.  There are several reasons for the BC-wide issue.

First, with the pine beetle infestation, moisture cannot be absorbed by dead trees anymore.  A living mature pine tree absorbs approximately 50 litres of water per day.  Much of this amount ends up in our rivers and will cause the flooding we experienced in the past, something we also will have to deal with for many years to come.  Another reason for flooding is the increase in melting snow packs, which, arguably, is the result of global warming and causes more water to be available in rivers at certain times of the year. Lastly, the lack of dredging from ongoing silt migration into key junctions is raising the water table in key river systems.

The cost of response and recovery during the Freshet flooding last spring, and summer in Vanderhoof, was $24 million provincially. Much of damage was in the Northwest Region. Costs for local government response include evacuation supports, emergency works to critical infrastructure and “Disaster Financial Assistance” to impacted residents, local governments and ministries.

Urgent mitigation work based on the flood risk analysis across the province cost $34.3m, shared with the Provincial Government. Another $9.4m was expended in readiness activities, including purchase of Gabion dikes, sandbags, safety and response training for local governments, first nations and volunteers.

Last November's heavy rainfall in the Southeast and Central Regions resulted in flooding and landslides near Lytton and Bridal Falls, with damages to road infrastructure of appropriately $3.7m.

Currently the estimated costs related to the Nechako Ice Jam and flooding in Prince George is $5.0m. These costs are mostly related to the City of Prince George’s response, building temporary protective works, pumping, engineering assistance, and evacuation costs. The assessment phase for Disaster Financial Assistance for impacted residents and local government infrastructure is continuing and the final cost will likely rise.

Additionally, the reduction in GDP due to flooding and the associated job losses has to be considered.  In Prince George alone 250 jobs were lost for 3 month due to temporary layoffs.  Products could not be delivered in time, and now several businesses are closing permanently as they cannot recover the lost sales and suppliers.


| THE CHAMBER RECOMMENDS

That the Provincial Government work with the Federal Governments to:

  1. conduct a study to achieve the following goals;

    1. a long term Provincial flood prevention plan for flood endangered areas to save jobs, property and allow for further planning and development in flood endangered zones; and

    2. a dyking and/or dredging analysis for flood endangered zones should be carried out and where identified, dykes should be built as soon as possible and dredging should  be allowed to avoid the ever increasing damages to property, loss of production and danger to human life.

  1. work with municipal  governments to create a working group with terms of reference and governance that will respond to the short and long term flood planning and response issues. This includes forming a committee that will deal with emergency response and long term mitigation and funding of activities dealing with flooding and flood prevention.