City of Calgary Invests $85 Million in Flood Preparedness Ahead of Spring Melt
A decade after the devastating 2013 flood, the city has upgraded barriers, reservoirs, and early warning systems.
As spring snowmelt approaches, the City of Calgary says it has invested $85 million in flood preparedness measures over the past year, a critical upgrade a decade after the catastrophic 2013 flood that caused $6 billion in damage across southern Alberta.
What’s New
Key projects include the completion of permanent flood barriers along the Elbow River in Mission and Sunnyside, upgrades to the Glenmore Reservoir spillway, and the installation of a real-time sensor network that monitors water levels at 45 points along the Bow and Elbow rivers.
“We are significantly better prepared than we were in 2013,” said Calgary Emergency Management Agency chief Susan Henry. “But we must remain vigilant. Flooding is a when, not an if, for this city.”
Upstream Protection
The long-awaited Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir, designed to divert floodwaters from the Elbow River, is now 80% complete and expected to be operational by fall 2024. The $432-million provincial project has faced years of delays and legal challenges but will provide significant protection to downstream communities.
Climate Considerations
Climate scientists warn that flood risk in the Bow River basin is increasing due to changing precipitation patterns, earlier snowmelt, and the potential for rain-on-snow events that contributed to the 2013 disaster.
“We’re not just preparing for the last flood — we’re preparing for a future where extreme weather events are more frequent and more intense,” said University of Calgary hydrologist Dr. Shawn Marshall.
Residents in flood-prone areas are encouraged to review their household emergency plans and ensure they have adequate insurance coverage. The City’s flood preparedness guide is available at calgary.ca/flood.
