Public engagement for new flood maps coming soon

PONOKA -- The results of recent provincial flood mapping in Ponoka is set to be released in the coming weeks.

This comes after approximately 330 kilometres of mapping was conducted in areas across the province over the past year. This saw the Alberta Government complete work in the Ponoka area, along with more than a dozen other municipalities, including Lacombe and Millet.

According to the province, data relating to the flood mapping in communities such as Ponoka will be released later this month, and public engagement will follow shortly after. They note that this consultation is the last step before finalization, which is expected by the end of 2026.

"RMA appreciates ongoing provincial investment in flood mapping across rural areas of the province," said Kara Westerlund, president, Rural Municipalities of Alberta. "Proper monitoring and mitigation are crucial parts of effective emergency planning and response, and accurate flood mapping data will support municipalities in understanding flood risks when planning new development and investing in emergency mitigation and response capacity."

Alberta's government produces a variety of flood mapping products that focus on floods caused by high river flows when water escapes the river channel, which is most common in spring or following heavy summer rainstorms. They also produce flood maps specific to ice jam floods, debris floods along steep mountain creeks, or potential for river channel erosion during high flow events.

Flood mapping is commonly used to guide local development decisions and prioritization of flood mitigation strategies, including projects that are eligible for funding through the government's Drought and Flood Protection Program.