Thirteen years after Calgary faced severe flooding, the city has unveiled a new flood barrier to safeguard against future disasters. The Sunnyside Flood Barrier, stretching 2.4 kilometers along the Bow River, was officially completed with a total cost of $73 million over the past decade.
The barrier’s construction aims to shield the nearby Sunnyside and Hillhurst areas from potential one-in-100-year floods, significantly reducing the city’s overall flood risk by 70%, as stated by Michael Thompson, Calgary’s water utility chief operating officer. This reduction translates into fewer homes at risk of flood damage, less impact on public infrastructure like roads and utilities, and decreased financial and emotional burden on affected residents.
Featuring permanent flood walls, sheet pile walls, and deployable flood protection systems, the barrier also includes enhancements such as new seating areas, improved pathways, and the planting of approximately 200 additional trees. Landscaping work is ongoing and is expected to be completed by the end of October.
Local resident Christie Page, who was displaced from her home during the 2013 floods with her one-year-old child, commended the barrier’s completion, expressing confidence in Sunnyside’s improved protection compared to over a decade ago.
Post the 2013 floods, the city and province collaborated on a comprehensive flood prevention strategy to enhance protection measures both within and outside Calgary while minimizing disruptions to communities and the environment, explained Frank Frigo, the city’s manager of environmental management. Continuing efforts include the completion of the Ghost Reservoir replacement to further mitigate flood risks and bolster the city’s water supply.