Fort McMurray largely escaped major flooding this spring thanks to newly updated ice-jam mapping, even as the Athabasca and Clearwater rivers faced a tough breakup.
The Alberta government invested $661,000 in the specialized mapping, which the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo used to prepare for and manage this year’s ice jam.
Ice jams have historically driven most flood events in the community, so the focused data proved especially useful.
Water levels similar to those seen in 1997 once caused widespread damage.
This time, effects stayed confined to parks, parking lots and riverside trails.
Mayor Sandy Bowman noted that the flood mitigation program ranks among the largest investments in the municipality’s history and has advanced protection for residents, homes, businesses and public infrastructure in recent years.
“Historically, the vast majority of flood events that impact us are due to ice jams. Having flood mapping based on the risk we experience can only help us be better prepared and able to respond, and we saw the positive effects of this approach and partnership this past spring,” he said.
Environment and Protected Areas Minister Grant Hunter credited the resilience investments with safeguarding communities, homes, businesses and essential infrastructure through the severe weather of spring and summer.
“Working with municipal and Indigenous leaders, we are strengthening public safety and building resilient communities,” he added.
Alberta currently has 850 kilometres of flood mapping in progress and aims to finish 3,000 kilometres of new or updated mapping by 2028.
Since 2020, roughly 1,900 kilometres have already been completed for 70 municipalities and five First Nations.
The province recently finished a $531,000 upgrade to the Alberta River Basins website and Alberta Rivers app, which deliver current conditions, forecasts and public advisories.
More than 560 stations track river flows and water levels province-wide, while over 470 monitor rainfall.
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