The Calgary River Communities Action Group (CRCAG) has remained steadfast in our mission to secure effective flood mitigation for the residents and businesses along the Elbow and Bow Rivers. As we mark a milestone with the completion of the Springbank Off-stream Reservoir on the Elbow River, our focus now intensifies on ensuring equitable and comprehensive protection for all communities along the Bow River.
Today, we’re sharing our latest position statement, which outlines our stance on current policies, projects in motion, and the need for further action. We invite our members, partners, and government stakeholders to read and reflect on this call to action as we continue to advocate for smart, long-term flood mitigation solutions.
Position Statement
Calgary River Communities Action Group (CRCAG) Position Statement on Bow River flood mitigation
Since its inception, the Calgary River Communities Action Group has advocated for the construction of large-scale upstream flood mitigation infrastructure to provide the City of Calgary protection for at minimum a 1 in 200 year scale flood event on the Elbow and Bow Rivers.
Elbow River
Completion of the Springbank Off-stream Reservoir in spring of 2025, working in tandem with the improved Glenmore Reservoir, mitigates to at least the 1 in 200 year flood event on the Elbow River.
Bow River
Most communities in the City of Calgary remain vulnerable to a 1 in 200 year flood event on the Bow River, with no approved projects as yet that would mitigate to that level. CRCAG will continue to advocate for flood protection for all Bow River communities to a 1 in 200 year scale flood event.
Peak flow should not exceed 800 m³/s to avoid property damage
One of the more vulnerable Bow River communities is Bowness, which will see residences and businesses experiencing flood damage if river flows exceed 800 m³/s. It is therefore CRCAG’s position that the protection provided by upstream infrastructure on the Bow River must be evaluated with 800 m¬≥/s as the maximum peak allowable flow.
Advance the Relocated Ghost Dam Option
The Government of Alberta recently concluded a “Bow River Reservoir Options” project and following a thorough feasibility study decided to move forward with further exploration of the “Relocated Ghost Dam” option. CRCAG supports the Government’s decision to move forward to Phase 3: Engineering and regulatory approval for the Relocated Ghost Dam option and urges the Government to execute on Phase 3 without delay.
Continue to look for additional projects
We recognize the Relocated Ghost Dam option alone will not provide full flood protection to every Bow River community and we will therefore continue to advocate for the Government to determine one or more additional projects, or an alternative project, to achieve flood protection for all of Calgary for a 1 in 200 year flood event. For example, the Government is currently pursuing Alberta’s “Water Storage Opportunities Study” to identify and rank suitable locations for water storage across the province to boost water security and protect against drought and floods. In carrying out that study, we encourage the Government to thoroughly evaluate the “Benchlands Reservoir and Pumped Storage Hydropower Project” proposed by the Bowness Responsible Flood Mitigation Society, which may have the potential to address water storage, flood mitigation and power generation. The potential flood mitigation capacity of the Benchlands project could help address the gap in flood protection on the Bow River that will exist even if the Relocated Ghost Dam project is completed.
Flood Hazard Mapping
CRCAG has advocated against policy, legislative and regulatory changes that are prejudicial to and negatively impact property owners in flood impacted communities. We continue this advocacy which includes advocating that the flood mitigation capability of any reservoir capacity upstream on the Bow River be recognized in determining flood hazard characterizations in provincial flood mapping. This recognition must extend to the flood mitigation capability provided by the existing Modified Operations Agreement for the Ghost Reservoir in place between the Government and TransAlta. This agreement allows the Government to modify operations at several TransAlta facilities to help protect communities along the Bow River against the impacts of floods, thereby altering the flood risk, which should be reflected in flood hazard mapping.
If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can reach us at info@crcactiongroup.com.
Regards, CRCAG Board