New Bow, Elbow flood maps show significant risk reduction
[Excerpt] By Darren Krause
Ward 1 Coun. Sonya Sharp said that the map release was timely as the Bowness flood mitigation group was set to have their annual general meeting.
“I think that once we see where the maps are and for future development, that will also help the residents in Bowness and Montgomery understand where we’re going with some of the flood mitigation process and working along with the province,” Sharp told reporters on Tuesday.
Plans for a Bowness Flood Barrier were in progress until 2021. A feasibility study at the time showed that a barrier would be effective in reducing basement and main floor damage from overland flooding, according to the City of Calgary’s project webpage.
Residents in the area wanted more information on the province’s upstream mitigation plans before further work on the Bowness flood barrier. As a result, no further work has been done.
Sharp said that a big problem in the area is groundwater seepage. Seeing the maps might help with a better understanding of the potential flood issues, she said.
“I know people got a little bit concerned about the water issue last year, even though it was a pipe failure, we talk about water seepage,” she said.
“So, every time there’s a water main break in some of these communities, like Bowness, it’s generally the water that’s coming from the ground up.”
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