While much attention had been paid to large community scale mitigation projects and methods, there are opportunities for individuals to play a role in mitigating flooding. To tap into these opportunities the WaterPortal will be sharing a series of blogs entitled “Make A Difference – Actions For Individuals To Mitigate Flood and Drought” which focuses on small, individual efforts that can positively contribute to flood (and drought) mitigation. Spoilers: it all has to do with what we know about, and the health, of our watersheds.

To be very clear, a single person will not be able hold back the entirety of future flood waters on their own. However, enough people engaging in small acts can make a difference, especially in smaller scale events. 

Damage from flooding is generally caused by a combination of:

  1. speed of water
  2. quantity of water, 
  3. or an insufficient information or data.

The following series of blog posts will present a number of ways individuals can help mitigate future floods along the three ways flood damage occurs.

 

Measuring Rain, Hail, and Snow 

“The Rain Doesn’t Fall The Same On All” – Unknown

YCMAD-Collect Data-small

One way to contribute to flood management is to simply monitor, record, and submit weather information to CoCoRahs. CoCoRahs stands for Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, and it something we have blogged about in the past. When it rains, snows, or hails volunteers take measurements of precipitation and submit it to the CoCoRahs website.

This community based monitoring means more data points can feed into hydrological models which are the basis for flood hazard mapping, river forecasting and community mitigation project planning. The Manitoba Government is already on board with CoCoRahs and using the data our friends downstream are collecting, and recently a CoCoRahs office has opened in Saskatchewan. Now it’s Alberta’s turn to add to the information out there so it can be used for more informed planning and forecasting in Western Canada.  

You can sign up on the CoCoRahs website by clicking here.  Outside of signing up you’ll also need a 4 inch diameter rain gauge. You can buy one from the CoCoRahs Canada Store, or you can build one yourself

 

What else can we do?

Do you have other ideas on how individuals can help make this a healthier watershed, or provide information to experts so that their studies may be more informed? Let us know in the comments or by email.

 


Read more from the Actions For Individuals To Mitigate Flood and Drought series:

Part 1: Collect Data

Part 2: Slowing and Absorbing Rainwater

Part 3: Watershed Planning 

Part 4: Storage 

Photograph of WaterPortal Board Member Ross Douglas

Ross Douglas

Board Member

Ross has extensive executive experience in Operations, Governance, Information Technology and Strategy at the board and senior management level including Mancal Corporation, Mancal Energy, Highridge Exploration and Atlantis Resources. He has worked in Oil and Gas, Coal, Commercial Real Estate, Portfolio Management, Recreation, Retail and Water and Wastewater Treatment. His experience is also geographically diverse having overseen operations in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Additionally, he has been on the board of companies with operations in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Kazakhstan, and Russia. He has served on numerous Public, Private and Not for Profit Boards across a number of industries.

Ross has been active on several industry Boards and committees including the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and The Schulich School of Engineering Industry Advisory Council at the Schulich School of Engineering.

Photograph of WaterPortal Board Member Brian Mergelas

Brian Mergelas, PhD, ICD.D

Board Member

Brian is a seasoned Cleantech entrepreneur with a proven history of successfully bringing complex water technologies to the market.   With over 25 years of experience, he has led various organizations to achieve significant milestones in the industry. 

Having started as the founding CEO of the Pressure Pipe Inspection Company (PPIC) and later taking the helm at the Water Technology Acceleration Project (WaterTAP), Brian’s entrepreneurial spirit has been instrumental in driving innovation and growth within the sector. 

He is an active investor in the cleantech sector and has served on many boards including the Ontario Clean Water Agency. 

Actively engaged in industry associations like AWWA, WEF, IWA, and ASCE, Brian enjoys collaborating with fellow professionals to promote advancements in the field. 

Brian holds an undergraduate degree and a PhD in Physics from Queen’s University, which has provided him with a solid technical foundation.   As a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, he brings valuable insights to corporate governance.