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Flood protection—a priority for the City

By Coun. Chak Au

Published 12:56 PST, Thu February 17, 2022

Last year, British Columbia experienced severe weather including a record-breaking, scorching hot summer and wildfires. Then, at the end of the year, atmospheric rivers in November, caused flooding due to torrential rainfall, significant damage, river overflows and economic losses to many communities. 

In Richmond, flood protection has always been a priority for Council. With increasing climate change, the risk of flooding must continually be addressed through high quality analysis and management. Last November, as 70 per cent of the average monthly rainfall fell within three days, it put our flood management system to a critical test. Due to our forethought, planning and investments, we passed that test.

Richmond sits approximately one metre above mean sea level and is protected by 49 kilometres of dikes, 39 pump stations, 585 kilometres of drainage pipes and 61 kilometres of box culverts. Continual operation, maintenance and upgrading of this critical infrastructure is essential. During the atmospheric rivers, Richmond’s infrastructure performed well, and we avoided the unfortunate impacts seen in neighbouring regions. 

The City’s Flood Protection Management Strategy is a multi-faceted approach to flood protection. We spend over $14 million each year on flood protection projects, which include reinforcing and raising the dikes section by section, and upgrading our drainage pump stations. 

These and our other flood protection investments are money well spent.  The personal and property loss during a disaster and the post-disaster recovery and reconstruction costs are always significantly worse than the cost of prevention.

Given the urgency of responding to the various repercussions of climate change, Council has resolved to expedite flood protection upgrades to further protect the city. Public and stakeholder engagement for Dike Master Plan Phase 4, which includes the north dike between No. 6 Road and Boundary Road, will commence later this year. This represents our latest round of state-of-the-art advanced planning.  

In addition, City staff are reviewing and identifying lessons learned from the atmospheric river events last year to identify what went well and where improvements could be implemented for future events.  In addition, a report on the review of further accelerating the City’s flood protection program will be brought forward to Council in March 2022.

For information on the City’s Flood Protection Management Strategy, click here.

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