A major piece of flood mitigation infrastructure west of Calgary is now operational, offering critical protection for southern Alberta communities vulnerable to extreme flooding.
The Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir (SR1) is officially complete and ready to defend Calgary and surrounding areas from disasters like the 2013 floods — the costliest natural disaster in Canadian history. That event claimed five lives, displaced over 80,000 people, and caused more than $5 billion in damages.
Construction of SR1 began in 2022 after a comprehensive regulatory review and consultations with the public and Indigenous communities. Located south of Cochrane in Rocky View County, on Treaty 7 land, the $849.4-million project is designed to divert and temporarily store floodwaters from the Elbow River, releasing them once the threat has passed.
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“With flood season now upon us, Calgary and southern Alberta can rest assured they will be protected from future large-scale floods like that of 2013,” said Devin Dreeshen, Alberta’s Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, in a news release issued today.. “SR1’s innovative design will buffer communities and businesses from the most devastating physical and economic impacts.”
The dry reservoir — the first of its kind in Alberta — is designed to work in conjunction with the Glenmore Reservoir and other flood infrastructure around Calgary. It includes a 4.7-kilometre-long diversion channel, a 29-metre-high storage dam, and can store up to 70.2 million cubic metres of water, equivalent to nearly 28,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Government officials state SR1 was also built with an emphasis on environmental stewardship. Mitigation and monitoring plans for fish, wildlife, air and water quality, and vegetation were implemented during construction.
Indigenous monitors were present during construction to oversee the protection of culturally significant items, with all findings assessed and reported under the Historical Resources Act. A land use plan was developed in collaboration with First Nations to guide non-flood-period activities in the area.
Of the project’s total estimated cost, $680.9 million was covered by the provincial government, with the federal government contributing $168.5 million.
SR1 will only be activated during flood emergencies, when rising water levels on the Elbow River trigger the diversion system. The infrastructure is expected to play a vital role in preventing future disasters and ensuring the long-term safety and sustainability of the region.