An application by the MD of Bighorn was issued to the province earlier this week to request financial support for mitigation on “dangerous” creeks.
On Tuesday (Sept. 30), Bighorn and BGC Engineering submitted an engineering report to the Alberta Community Resiliency Program (ACRP) for long-term mitigation measures on both Exshaw and Jura creeks.
The ACRP is a three-year program dedicated to flood prevention throughout the province. It will allocate $110 million to Alberta municipalities for the first year of funding; the submission deadline was Tuesday.
Bighorn requested $23.7 million to provide the maximized resiliency proposed by BGC Engineering, but will prioritize if they receive less.
BGC Engineering led a study on long-term mitigation options for the two affected creeks and discussed their findings and recommendations at a public meeting on Sept. 25 at Exshaw Community Hall.
Dr. Matthias Jakob, a senior geoscientist with BGC, presented slideshow to a few dozen community members regarding mitigation ideas for the creeks, including a debris barrier, raising berms and armouring channel banks. If all Bighorn requests are met, installation could be within two years.
“In order for the government to give money, they need to see how bad it was and how bad it can get,” Jakob said. “Exshaw and Jura are dangerous streams and can cause loss of life. With the help of the MD we have figured out risks and hazards and have a way to request funding from the province.”
Bighorn Councillor Paul Ryan said he would be disappointed if the government didn’t support the application and thinks there would be economic effects provincially if a similar event were to happen.
“I think protecting the community is one thing, but two highway bridges are there as well as the railroad tracks,” Ryan said. “I think the entire economy of Alberta would be affected if there was another similar event and I would hope the province can see the value in all the assets and at the same time, protect the residents of Exshaw.”
