Click, click, click, click.

Like the odometer on an old junker, the time just clicks by, moment by moment.

The years (7), months (84), days (2,555), hours (61,320), and minutes (3,679,200) since the 2013 flood, just keep clicking by.

And still not one stone has been disturbed upstream on the Elbow or Bow rivers, to effect the mitigation that this City and southern communities so desperately needs, as it always has needed.

Click, click, click, click.

Someone without detailed knowledge of what’s happened these past seven years on upstream flood mitigation, may say that the failure to date to meaningfully protect our city (from such a clear and ever-present existential threat) has been an absolute abdication of governance and leadership.

7 years and no physical action? Outrageous!

We have seen the contributors to the interminable processes involved. 5 different provincial Premiers, 3 different governing provincial parties, 2 different Prime Ministers and federal governments, numerous changes in government administration, opposition on numerous fronts, complex and protracted provincial and federal regulatory oversight that continue to evolve, and a whole host of challenges large and small, too many of which seem purpose-built to keep this province from helping itself.

Click, click, click, click.

Work is being done. It’s slow, but it is advancing.

However, we at CRCAG do have detailed knowledge of what has transpired the past seven years. Although the progress has been slow, it most certainly has been made; and there are some very dedicated, talented people working behind the scenes we should all be extremely grateful to.

The people in government we talk to, and their teams, are moving this forward, and they want to achieve the results that make sense on both watersheds, and for everyone affected. They are engaged and they are working hard.

We are moving in the right direction but there’s much work ahead.

Glenmore Gates – Most notably, and within the City’s municipal authority to accomplish, the $80 million Glenmore Reservoir upgraded gates are now operational. We thank our elected officials, city administration and everyone involved for bringing this important project home, on time and on budget. Well done!

Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir (SR1) – Our provincial government has picked up where the prior administration left off, to advance the SR1 project and important mitigation upstream of that site (Bragg Creek flood mitigation).

This spring both the Tsuut’ina Nation and Rocky View County dropped their opposition to SR1, indicating that Transportation has been doing an excellent job addressing stakeholder concerns. Great work for which we are tremendously thankful!

Both federal and provincial regulatory reviews for SR1 are in Round 2. The provincial NRCB hearing is expected in early-2021. We estimate that construction could begin as early as fall 2021 and be operational in time for flood season 2024. Read more.

Bow Basin Water Management Options – The province’s thoughtful evaluation of upstream mitigation options on the Bow River will eventually lead to a project that will supplement the management of existing infrastructure like the Ghost Reservoir.

The final report for Phase 1, a conceptual assessment of three upstream options, has not yet been made public. Once this is done, the project will move to Phase 2, a three-year feasibility study to select one superior option. We’re at least 10 years out from completion.

Flood Development Regulations (FDR) – In 2013, the development of FDR was moved from municipal into provincial jurisdiction. We have yet to see provincial FDR and there is not much visibility into the status of this file (video at 2:57). We understand that Municipal Affairs is continuing this work in conjunction with AEP.

We all need to keep an eye on this work. Bad policy can be just as destructive as floodwaters.

Floodway hazard maps – The province continues to work on its flood mapping and expects to vet the maps through municipalities and First Nations sometime in 2021, followed by a public engagement period.

Fortunately, momentum continues and our three levels of government are working to protect this City and all of southern Alberta, including upstream communities on the Elbow River (which will see protection by 2023 before Calgary and downstream communities).

Challenges still lay ahead, and it is for this reason that we intend to continue to work with our governments and to support their efforts.

If ever we felt that the government’s focus was wavering, we’d be sure to respond. Our frustrations are with the real delays we’ve seen, not the direction. In that respect, onward.

But… click, click, click, click, click…

Thank you, members!

We’d like to express our deep thanks to each of you for your ongoing dogged support. In your thoughtful words to us, in your responding to our calls-to-action and in staying at our side throughout.

We will continue to ensure that the 2013 flood won’t be forgotten, as prior floods have for generations. We can’t continue to build our community house and its economy, if the plumbing is broken.

Yours in effort,

Your CRCAG Board