Lumby Prepares For Future Flooding

Lumby is taking steps to be better prepared for future flooding.

The village has hired an engineering firm to update its floodplain mapping which hasn’t been done in 20 years.

Finance director Jeremy Sundin says the project will also include an assessment of 7.6 kilometres of earthworks and creek banks installed during the flooding back in May on Duteau and Bessette creeks.

“If they are up to the provincial dike standards, then perhaps the answer is they can stay. If they need work to be brought up to the those standards, what does that work look like and what would it cost, and is it feasible to even do so?” Sundin tells Kiss FM.

Kerr Wood Leidal Engineers will be paid $148,662 for the project, funding that comes from the province.

“There is areas that have no earthworks on them right now that we’d like to know, how do we get earthworks on there that are up to standard and what would that cost? So it’s not only assessing what we have done, but assessing what we haven’t done as well,” adds Sundin.

Public input will also be part of the process.

“There are a number of deliverables included in the scope of the project, including a public engagement meeting so that the consultant can hear directly from residents and answer questions about the work plan, process, methodology, timeline, etc,” says a village release.

The project is scheduled to begin immediately with final reporting and presentation by the end of March 2018.

“We are excited to see this happen,” says Mayor Kevin Acton. “This work is priority for Lumby, and we will be looking forward to working with the Province to see this project through to completion.”

“We are pleased to be working with Kerr Wood Leidal on this initiative,” says Tod Kadla, Chief Administrative Officer. “The consultant has a good reputation and we believe they will do an excellent job for Lumby. As a next step we look forward to setting a date with the consultant for a public engagement meeting.”