While we’ve seen two key opponents, Tsuut’ina Nation and Rocky View County, drop their opposition to Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir (SR1) in recent weeks, some remaining opponents appear to have organized themselves under a new name: Elbow River Sustainability Alliance (ERSA). Members of this new organization include: Bragg Creek Community Association Bragg Creek Chamber of Commerce Redwood Meadows Town Council Springbank Community Association We understand that their pitch is that the […]

On May 12, Rocky View County council voted 6-3 to withdraw its opposition to the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir (SR1). The official letter notifying the Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) of this change states: I write to you on behalf of Rocky View County. Rocky View County hereby withdraws all of its objections in relation to the Spring Bank Off-Stream Reservoir project proceeding through the regulatory process. Should you have any […]

As part of Budget 2020, the Government of Alberta has committed $196.3 million over three years to continue to advance the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir (SR1). While we had been assured that SR1 remained fully funded to $432 million, no firm dollar amount had been provided by the province until now. Combined with the $168.5 million in federal funds announced last spring and the funds already spent to date, this commitment […]

To manage spring runoff, there will be a controlled increase in flow on the Elbow River for the next day or so. Water treatment operations are a significant driver around the need to increase flows to 50 cms on lower Elbow. Flows will appear elevated and are triggering a couple of pathway closures but should not be problematic. The official advisory from the City is below. Calgary issues boating advisory […]

The Tsuut’ina Nation have officially withdrawn all objections to the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir (SR1). This is HUGE news! The Tsuut’ina’s withdrawal of their Statement of Concern removes a significant regulatory barrier for Alberta Transportation and eliminates one of the larger opponents we’d expected to face at the public hearing. In the official notice dated April 1, 2020, the Tsuut’ina Nation declares: Tsuut’ina hereby withdraws all of its objections in relation […]

SR1 update: Federal review moves to Round 2, provincial hearing delayed, COVID-19 impacts We’ve been fairly quiet since our last Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir update in January, but plenty has been happening behind the scenes and there’s good news to report!  Federal regulatory review Finally! The Round 1 responses have been deemed complete and the Round 2 questions have been issued. AT’s submitted its final Round 1 responses in December 2019 and the Impact Assessment Agency […]

With both good news and bad news, the release of Budget 2020 has brought clarity to a few of our flood mitigation funding concerns. Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir (SR1) GOOD NEWS: The project remains fully funded to $432 million. The total capital plan funding for province-wide flood projects remains at $386 million, for the next four years, which is essentially the previous budgeted capital expenditure number less the almost $50 million […]

With 2019 behind us, we’ve compiled a quick recap of what the year brought and a preview of what to anticipate in 2020. 2019 recap Provincial election In the lead-up to the provincial election in April, we surveyed each party on key flood mitigation issues and put pressure on those who had not yet declared publically their commitment to SR1. Related to these efforts, in January we formed a coalition […]

Alberta Transportation has submitted responses to all Round 1 SR1 information requests from the federal regulator, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC). It is expected that these latest responses (to the IAAC’s July 16, 2019 deficiency questions) will satisfy the regulator. If so, the Round 1 information requests will be considered complete and ready for review. The following is a notice provided by Alberta Transportation: On June 14, 2019, […]

Last month we breathed a brief sigh of relief when CBC’s Robson Fletcher published his extremely well-researched and well-balanced article, Why 3 Alberta governments chose Springbank to protect Calgary. For years the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir project (SR1) has endured media coverage with often incomplete information, inaccuracies, and distractions. Rarely has a media outlet produced such thorough coverage of the complex SR1 file, so for this, we owe him a thank-you. […]