(paNOW/File photo) 

By Alison Sandstrom

River Matters

New mapping decreases size of Prince Albert floodplain

May 28, 2020 | 8:00 AM

In a worst-case flooding scenario, fewer properties in Prince Albert would be impacted than previously thought.

A new report commissioned by the City of P.A. shows 1,599 properties fall within the one-in-500-year floodplain. Previous studies, dating from around 40 years ago, indicated that up to 2,400 residential properties were impacted.

The findings of the report were presented to city council at Monday night’s executive committee meeting.

“That’s a big difference,” Mayor Greg Dionne told paNOW after the meeting. “We’ve cut out 800 homes, so somebody that was in the floodplain and couldn’t sell their house is going be breathing a sigh of relief.”

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The report by Stantec Engineering shows the West and East Flat areas of the city are at the highest risk of flooding. While waters would reach more West Flat homes during a 1:200 year flood than any other part of the city, East Flat would be most heavily affected during a more severe but less likely 1:500 year flood event.

A figure illustrates areas affected by a one-in-200-year flood (Council Agenda/City of P.A.)

The flood of 1915, the worst ever recorded in the city, roughly equates to a one-in-200-year flood. According to the report, during this type of flood, the river would spill over its banks into areas in the west of the city and flood some roadways in the East Flat area. The low-lying area around the Waste Water Treatment Plant would also be flooded, and effects would be start to be seen to the north of the river in the Hazeldell area.

A figure illustrates areas affected by a one-in-500-year flood (Council Agenda/City of P.A.)

During a 1:500 year flood, Highway 55 would also be inundated, and further flooding would occur in Hazeldell, East Flat and West Flat. Both the water treatment plant and the waste water treatment plant would be completely flooded.

Director of planning and development services for the city Craig Guidinger told paNOW it feels good to have the study complete and added Stantec Engineering did an excellent job.

The city has been working on getting an updated flood map done since 2012, when the province introduced new guidelines for flood planning. Flood preparedness has been a topic of debate around the council table in the past.

Guidinger said he plans to use the new data to develop a public application where people can look up their houses to see how they may be affected by the floodplain.

“We still have about 1,600 properties within that flood area,” he said. “So we want to make sure that we’re able to provide the public with up to date information and make it available at their fingertips.”

Guidinger said he will also begin looking for provincial and federal money for flood mitigation options including dykes, berms and tubes.

The flood mapping study cost approximately $115,000 and was funded entirely through federal and provincial grants.

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alisonsandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom