Last week, on June 22, 2021 — immediately following the 8-year anniversary of the Southern Alberta Floods — there was a collective sigh of relief when the Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) announced its approval of the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir project (SR1).

Read the NRCB press release here.

We are nearly there. We could have shovels in the ground as early as spring 2022. Here’s what the final sprint looks like:

Provincial

• provincial cabinet approval of project
• supplementary applications: Water Act (Alberta Environment Parks (AEP)), Public Lands Act (AEP)

Federal

• final Environmental Assessment Report (EAR) from Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC)(deadline for this is July 10)
• decision statement by Minister of Environment and Climate Change
• supplementary applications: Fisheries Act (Department Fisheries and Oceans)

Land acquisition

• land acquisitions and/or expropriations (this process can begin after provincial cabinet approval)
  
  

To date, we have successfully acquired approximately 25% of the lands in the Project area through voluntary purchases. I am also pleased to advise the Board that we are in the process of finalizing acquisitions from an additional three SR1 landowners. When finalized, these acquisitions will increase to approximately 43% the amount of land secured by Alberta Transportation for the Project.

-Matthew Hebert, Alberta Transportation in its March 22, 2021 opening statement

Media coverage of NRCB approval:

• 660 News – Reservoir to protect Calgary from floods gets approval
• Calgary Herald – Provincial regulator approves contentious Springbank flood dam
• Calgary Sun – Provincial regulator approves Springbank dam project
• CBC News – Springbank reservoir in the public interest, according to Alberta regulatory board
• Cochrane Today – Natural Resources Conservation Board SR1 approval met with dismay
• Discover Airdrie – Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir approved by NRCB (includes summary points of NRCB decision)
• Globe & Mail – Reservoir to protect Calgary from floods gets NRCB approval

Below we’ve shared the message that went out via the SR1 e-newsletter (read past issues and sign up here).

With SR1 more real than ever in our minds, check out these visualization maps from data Alberta Transportation collected in summer 2022.

To our members: Thank you again for your support and for your heartfelt letters — they allowed us to represent the voice of the affected and to show the NRCB the critical nature of SR1.

If you’d like to get in touch with us, reach out to info@crcactiongroup.com.

Regards,

Your CRCAG Board

Good afternoon,

Today, the Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) released its decision report on the Springbank Off-stream Reservoir (SR1) Project.  After reviewing all evidence presented and conducting a public hearing about the project, the NRCB has concluded that SR1 is in the public interest.  The report can be found on the NRCB’s website here.

On behalf of Alberta Transportation, I would like to thank you for your interest in the SR1 project. Alberta Transportation has committed to continuing to communicate with stakeholders for the remainder of the regulatory review process, and, if approved, during construction and operations.  The Government of Alberta Cabinet will now consider the NRCB’s report and make a decision regarding the project’s authorization. The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada is also completing their report on SR1 and we await the Government of Canada’s decision. 

Regards,

Matthew Hebert
Executive Director
Springbank Off-stream Reservoir Project
Safety and Policy Division
Alberta Transportation