Calgary committee OK's plan for 1-in-100-year flood berm to protect Sunnyside

The city is recommending that plans go ahead for a $28-million flood protection barrier for Sunnyside.

The utilities and corporate services committee approved a plan on Wednesday for a berm on the north bank of the Bow Riverthat can withstand a one-in-100-year flood event in the community that stretches from Centre Street to 10th Street just north of the Bow River.

Charlie Lund with the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association told the committee that the berm is necessary.

"It will provide reasonably adequate flood protection until the new or expanded reservoir upstream on the Bow River is eventually completed. We urge the committee to approve the recommendation," he said during the meeting.

Several hundred properties in Sunnyside were damaged as a result of overland flooding and/or sewer backup in the 2013 flood.

What isn't known yet is how the city will pay for the berm.

The provincial government cut $81 million from its flood resiliency program last fall, so some work in Calgary will be delayed.

Coun. Ward Sutherland, who chairs the utilities committee, says flood protection projects will continue, even if they take longer to complete.

"That list is going to have to be prioritized, so what we did today at committee is to say that the downtown areas, such as Sunnyside, et cetera, have to move forward and proceed and we do have the funds to do that."

City council will vote on the flood barrier planlater this month.

Planners aim to have it ready in time for the 2022 flood season.

The provincial government is still studying three possible sites for a new dam upstream of Calgary on the Bow River, but there isno estimated timeframe for construction.