A new report on historically identified detention and diversion sites, commissioned by the Alberta Flood Recovery Task Force and executed by Alberta WaterSMART, has been added to the Flood Recovery Task Force page.

This report explores 100-110 years of historical documentation on previously considered options for both drought and flood mitigation in the Elbow River Watershed. Many of the potential options come from reports by the Department of the Interior (established in 1873 by Sir John A. MacDonald) which had surveyed the land by foot looking for sites where the topography of Alberta could be used to create reservoirs to combat drought. 

Executive Summary

The purpose of this study is to review historical records to identify previously proposed detention and diversion sites on the Elbow River, and determine if these historical sites have any merit for further investigation and consideration by the Government of Alberta (GoA) as an alternative to the mitigation options currently being reviewed by the Flood Recovery Task Force.

An initial historical review of potential detention and diversion sites on the Elbow River provided twelve possible options that could be implemented to mitigate for both flood and drought.

Of the twelve identified historical detention and diversion sites it is recommended that the Priddis Creek diversion be seriously considered as an option for flood and drought mitigation. The Priddis Creek diversion is designed to mitigate for flooding upstream of Bragg Creek and the City of Calgary using the natural creek bed and low lying topographical areas for channeling the water flows. By using natural topography the Priddis Creek diversion has a greater potential to slow down the water; subsequently reducing peak flows. It is also recommended that the historical resevoir sites identifed by the Department of Interior in the 1890s, along with the McLean Site, should be further investigated for feasibility. These storage sites are recommended due to their use of natural topography and their ability to mitigate for flooding upstream of Bragg Creek and the City of Calgary.

In order to ensure that all the flood mitigation options are considered for all watersheds throughout Alberta, Alberta WaterSMART recommends further investigation into all mitigation options by continuing to undertake this type of historical analysis for all watersheds throughout Alberta.

Some of the current proposed options have received criticism by the water community for the potential impact they would have on the watershed. Do any of these proposed options seem like promising alternatives?  If not, what options would you recommend exploring?

 

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.