Alberta has accelerated its flood-mapping program at a rapid pace, completing more maps in the last five years than in the previous three and a half decades combined.
Since 2020 alone, more than 1,850 kilometres of flood maps have been delivered, resulting in new or updated mapping for 70 municipalities and five First Nations. Alberta remains on track to surpass 3,000 kilometres of new and updated mapping by 2028, provincial officials announced.
It’s all part of an ongoing effort to help communities understand where water will flow during major weather events and plan safer development in the future. All rivers, streams and lakes in the province carry flood risk, and officials say the dramatic expansion of mapping gives farmers, homeowners and municipalities clearer guidance on where it is safe to build, how best to protect property and how to prepare for emergencies.
“We’ve seen firsthand that floods can destroy homes, damage businesses and devastate communities, which is why we’re completing flood maps at a record pace to help communities plan better and keep Albertans safe,” announced Rebecca Schulz, Alberta Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, in a statement.
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Municipal leaders welcomed the new data, saying it strengthens both public safety and local economies. Dana Mackie, chief executive officer of Alberta Municipalities, says Albertan communities have long advocated for expanded flood-mapping to ensure accurate, up-to-date data.
“Reliable flood information not only strengthens community safety and resilience but also supports fairer insurance rates for our municipalities,” Mackie said in a statement.
The province has released five new flood studies covering key waterways across Alberta. The finalized studies were completed under the Flood Hazard Identification Program, with four jointly funded on a 50/50 basis with Natural Resources Canada. The province expects nearly 600 kilometres of additional draft flood-mapping over the next two years for communities including Carbon, Chateh, Crowsnest Pass, Edson, Garden River, Grande Prairie, Kinuso, Lacombe, Lamont, Lethbridge, Manning, Millet, Paddle Prairie, Peers, Ponoka, Robb, Rycroft, Thorsby, Two Hills and Watino.
Flood maps now shape many local planning decisions. More than 80% of municipalities with provincial mapping reference it directly in land use bylaws, and officials say the information continues to be integral to emergency response planning and long-term community development. All flood maps for communities across Alberta are available for public viewing online.
