Let’s be clear. The misconception that the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir Project (SR1) has not been given due scrutiny and study is false.

When the province began looking at options for upstream mitigation on the Elbow River, substantial expert study was conducted that lead to the project being chosen over two other shortlisted projects, the McLean Creek Reservoir (MC1) and the Glenmore Reservoir Bypass Tunnel.

Since then, the project has been subject to volumes of additional study and review from all three levels of government.

It is important to recognize the amount of work and resources that have gone into advancing this project to where it is today.

To encourage this understanding, we are sharing a post from fellow flood advocacy group, Calgary River Communities Action Group (CRCAG), detailing the key documents and milestones for the project. You can view the original post here.

Questions? Comments? Reach us at info@floodfreecalgary.com.

 

Key documents relating specifically to Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir

Recommendations on the Elbow River major infrastructure decisions response to Deltares report by Government of Alberta Environment and Parks (2015-10)

• The Government of Alberta provides an assessment focused on MC1 and SR1 and recognizes clear reasons why SR1 is first choice.

Letter-report on the Review of two flood mitigation projects: Bragg Creek / Springbank off-stream flood storage and the McLean Creek flood storage prepared for Government of Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD) Resilience & Mitigation Branch by Deltares (2015-10-07)

• Letter-report on the Review of two flood mitigation projects: Bragg Creek / Springbank off-stream flood storage and the McLean Creek flood storage. Report recommends SR1 over MC1 for a number of reasons including environmental, risk of failure, cost, construction timeline. Deltares is an independent institute for applied research in the field of water and subsurface with five areas of expertise.

Benefit/Cost Analysis of Flood Mitigation Projects for the City of Calgary: Springbank Off-Stream Flood Storage prepared for Government of Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD) Resilience & Mitigation Branch by IBI Group (2015-02-18)

• The report describes the benefit/cost analysis undertaken for the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir in relation to mitigating the City of Calgary flood damages. This analysis culminates with a comparison of the benefit/cost ratios for the three major mitigation projects under consideration of which the Springbank Project ranks first.

 

Key documents relating to flood mitigation in Calgary

Flood Mitigation Options Assessment Summary by City of Calgary (full report originally prepared by IBI Group and Golder Associates) (2017-12-25)

• Because of the heft and complexity of the Flood Mitigation Options Assessment, CRCAG asked the City to provide an “executive summary” for distribution to the public.

Flood Mitigation Options Assessment prepared for the City of Calgary by IBI Group and Golder Associates Ltd. (2017-02-01)

• In 2016, The City of Calgary undertook a Flood Mitigation Measures Assessment to provide a recommended direction on the future of Calgary’s flood mitigation and resiliency. This report outlines that work.
• Note (a bit confusing): The “Flood Mitigation Options Assessment Report” is posted on the “Flood Mitigation Measures Assessment Report” webpage, which is a different 14-page report issued following the City’s community consultations in 2016.

Flood Mitigation Measures Assessment Report by City of Calgary (2016-04)

• “Flood Mitigation Measures Assessment Report” is the report that included six recommendations, which were approved by Council in April 2017, upon which the City proceeded with its local area mitigation work.

Environmental Overview of McLean Creek Dry Dam prepared for Government of Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD) Resilience & Mitigation Branch by AMEC Environment & Infrastructure Alberta Environment (2015-02-09)

Provincial Flood Damage Assessment Study – City of Calgary: Assessment of Flood Damages prepared for Government of Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD) Resilience & Mitigation Branch by IBI Group and Golder Associates Ltd. (2015-02-06)

• In July of 2014 IBI Group along with Golder Associates Ltd. were retained by the Alberta Government, ESRD Operations, Resilience and Mitigation Branch to undertake the Provincial Flood Damage Assessment Study. The purpose of the study was threefold: 1. to update/develop flood damage curves in select communities at risk of flooding to 2014 economic values and establish adjustment indices for their use in different flood-prone communities across Alberta; 2. to develop a computerized model for estimating flood damages; and 3. to undertake flood damage estimates for select communities throughout Alberta. The report describes in detail the updating of content and structural damage curves, the development of the Rapid Flood Damage Assessment Model for application within Alberta, along with the Provincial adjustment indices for application to other municipalities and future flood events.

Report from the Expert Management Panel on River Flood Mitigation by City of Calgary’s Expert Management Panel (2014-06)

• The City of Calgary determined that a broad investigation of flood mitigation issues and responses was required. The City also decided that the investigation should be carried out by an arms-length body of experts. The River Flood Mitigation Program was established on those terms. The City formed an Expert Management Panel to gathered the input of many scientific and engineering experts, wide ranging public input and support from a number of City staff; from that, the Panel developed this report. Great report with high level data, infographics, recommends upstream storage options.

 

Regulatory review for Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir (SR1)

Part 1 of Information Requests Related to the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir Environmental Impact Statement (16 questions) by Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) (2018-06-29)

Part 2 of Information Requests Related to the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir Environmental Impact Statement (23 questions) by Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) (2018-08-20)

Part 3 of Information Requests Related to the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir Environmental Impact Statement by Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) (2018-08-31)

Original EIS submitted to CEAA and NRCB prepared for Government of Alberta Transportation by Stantec Consulting Ltd. (2017-11-01)

Revised EIS submitted to CEAA and NRCB prepared for Government of Alberta Transportation by Stantec Consulting Ltd. (2018-03-29)

• Access all documents:
  ftp://ftp.gov.ab.ca/env/fs/EIA/2017-10-AlbertaTransportationSpringbankOffStreamReservoirProject/
• Read the Executive Summary:
  ftp://ftp.gov.ab.ca/env/fs/EIA/2017-10-AlbertaTransportationSpringbankOffStreamReservoirProject/Executive%20Summary.pdf

Letter to Alberta Transportation re: EIS does not fully conform to guidelines, revisions requested by Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) (2017-11-16)

Guideline for the Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 for the Springbank Off-stream Reservoir Project by Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) (2016-06-23)
Notice of Commencement of an Environmental Assessment by Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) (2016-06-23)

 

Additional resources

Information boards from May 2018 public open houses on SR1 hosted by Government of Alberta and Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) (2018-05)

SR1 Infographic – If 2013 Flood Happened Today by Alberta Transportation (2017-10)

Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir (SR1) Handout by City of Calgary Water Services Flood Mitigation and Resiliency (2017-10)

SR1 EIA Technical Briefing Presentation by Alberta Transportation (2017-10)

Information boards from August 2017 public open houses on SR1 hosted by Government of Alberta and Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) (2017-08)

Flood Resiliency: Insights from a survey of the Calgary business community, Calgary Chamber of Commerce (2014)

 

Legal applications and hearings

Notice of Application Wagner et al re: EIS guidelines (2018-05-28)

• Application was filed by six landowners seeking to quash the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA)’s decision that the revised Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) conformed to the required guidelines set forth earlier by the CEAA.

Notice of Application Wagner et al re: refer SR1 to review panel (2016-12-20)

• Application was filed by six Springbank landowners seeking to quash the Minister of Environment and Climate Change’s decision to not refer the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir Project to a review panel under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.