Understand what flow rates between 800 m3/s and 1230 m3/s will do to your property and how to protect yourself, family, and home. Assess your risk level and take action to protect.
Suggested Actions:
- Review government flood hazard mapping. https://floods.alberta.ca/
- Explore how flood hazard mapping and flow rates over 800 m3/s may affect the value of your home, mortgage and insurance. Talk with realtors, insurance companies and government officials.
- Talk with your neighbors who were here in 2005 and 2013 and find out what happened to their property and how they protect their homes.
- Review your home insurance policy for any damage caused by water. What is
your coverage? - Download the ‘Alberta Rivers’ App and get familiar with the river flow throughout the seasons or view online at https://rivers.alberta.ca/ (the closer you zoom the more monitoring stations appear)
Stay informed and Speak up to the City and Provincial authorities.
Suggested Actions:
- Question politicians/authorities to insure they understand your flood concerns and the importance of investing in infrastructure that contributes to keeping the the maximum flow rate on the Bow River below 800 m3/s.
- Sign up for updates on City or Provincial flood and water related projects to be alerted of engagement opportunities such as:
- Bow River Reservoir Options Initiative (BRRO) https://www.alberta.ca/bow-river-reservoir-options
- Calgary River Valleys Project https://www.calgary.ca/water/flooding/calgary-river-valleys-project.html
- Express your point of view by commenting or writing letters (see below *).
Get involved
Suggested Actions:
- Join BRFM and participate in events https://www.bownessrfm.ca/join_us/
- Contribute to BRFM financially https://www.bownessrfm.ca/contribute/
- Contribute your time by volunteering at events, sharing your skills, assisting with fundraising or joining the Board – email info@bownessrfm.com to let BRFM know you are interested in helping
- Have conversations with neighbors and friends about the importance of keeping the flow rate on the Bow River below 800 m3/s (to both learn and inform)
- Participate in all government engagement opportunities
* Tips for writing or communicating with government officials
Consider writing to: Your Provincial MLA, the Premiere, the City of Calgary Councillor for your Ward and Ward 1 (Bowness), and the Mayor of Calgary.
Some points may include:
- An appeal for the City to advocate with the Province for a more robust upstream solution that protects Bowness from both overland and groundwater flooding. You could highlight that addressing upstream mitigation on the Bow River benefits Bowness but residents downstream of Bowness as well.
- As river levels exceed 800m3/s, groundwater flooding is a main cause of flood
damage in Bowness. - With the completion of the Springbank Off-stream Reservoir (SR-1), residents along the Elbow River have both groundwater and overland flood protection during a 1:200 year flood even. Communities along the Bow River should receive equal protection.
- City of Calgary information as well as resident experience support that a maximum release rate of 800 m3/s defines a damage threshold above which the community incurs significant flood damage.
- The Relocated Ghost Dam Option currently has a design maximum release rate of 1230 m3/s. With a damage threshold of 800 m3/s, Bowness requires additional upstream mitigation to prevent flood damage.