By rdnewsNOW staff

Alberta

Province shoring up community drought and flood protection

Oct 2, 2024 | 6:02 PM

Municipalities and Indigenous communities in Alberta can now apply for $19 million in funding to help protect homes, businesses and lives from floods and droughts.

Alberta’s government says it is stepping up to protect the province from droughts and floods. Officials say drought conditions affected parts of the province this summer, while other communities have faced flooding in recent years. The government says building the local infrastructure needed to protect residents, property and critical infrastructure is costly, but necessary.

To help, the government says more than $19 million is now available through the Drought and Flood Protection Program to help communities build the infrastructure they need. This is said to be part of a five-year, $125-million program that’s helping municipalities and First Nations protect critical infrastructure from flooding and drought and improve public safety.

“We know that drought and floods can devastate public infrastructure and private property, damage the environment, disrupt our economy and put lives at risk,” says Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas. “We’ve already funded 18 projects through the Drought and Flood Protection Program this year, but there is more work to do. That’s why we’re fast-tracking the next round of applications to protect communities across the province.”

Government officials say the Drought and Flood Protection Program is helping communities design and construct projects that protect critical infrastructure from drought and flooding and help ensure public safety is protected. The province says this includes the expansion of water storage or the retrofitting or relocation of water intakes to help ensure access to water during periods of drought. Flood mitigation projects, such as berms, flood walls or riverbank stabilization work, are also eligible under the program.

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Applications for shovel-ready projects are strongly encouraged, but according to the government, all projects that meet the eligibility criteria will be considered for funding. All municipalities, Improvement Districts, Special Areas, Metis Settlements and First Nations are eligible and also encouraged to apply.

The application deadline for Round 2 of funding is Nov. 29.

Alberta government quick facts

• Budget 2024 allocated $125 million over five years to the Drought and Flood Protection Program. Total funding awarded through this round of funding may vary depending on applications received and other factors.
• Round 2 applications will be reviewed over the winter and decisions announced in the spring, allowing projects that are shovel-ready to begin work during the 2025 construction season.
• In August, Environment and Protected Areas approved grants totaling $30,727,119 for 18 projects in 14 municipalities, two First Nations and one Metis settlement (Rocky View County had two projects approved).
• Projects eligible for funding include, but are not limited to:
• Drought and flood-proofing or relocation of critical infrastructure and infrastructure required to access those services.
• Structural measures such as berms, flood walls, bank protection and stabilization works, retention ponds and diversion structures intended to protect critical infrastructure and ensure public safety.
• Purchase of property for the purpose of relocation or for access to and/or construction of a project.
• Bio-retention infrastructure designed to increase flood attenuation and reduce the impacts of drought.
• Under the program:
• There is no minimum funding requirement for applications.
• A funding cap of $10 million per project is in place to ensure the program is able to support multiple projects each year.
• All approved projects will be cost-shared, with the Government of Alberta covering up to 70 per cent of total eligible costs and the grant recipient(s) covering the remaining 30 per cent.