First Nations and local governments throughout B.C. are receiving funding to help strengthen resilience against climate-related hazards, such as flooding, drought, wildfires and heat.

The provincial government is providing more than $44 million through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF), which will go to more than 70 projects in 63 communities under the Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Adaptation program stream, including three in the East Kootenay receiving more than $2.34 million.

The City of Fernie is getting $1,980,300 for its Mountview Dike Phase 2 and Coal Creek Bin Wall Upgrades. Work will raise the Mountview Dike alongside the Elk River to flood construction levels to prevent flooding in Fernie.

The Regional District of East Kootenay is getting $210,000 for its Fairmont Creek Debris Flow Hazard and Risk Assessment and Mitigation Options Update and Fairmont Hot Springs Development Guidance Project.

And the District of Invermere will get $150,000 for its Integrated Stormwater Plan.

“With the severe flooding, drought and wildfires we’ve experienced recently, we are seeing direct impacts of climate change here in B.C.,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “We’re investing in mitigation projects across the province so we can reduce the risk of disasters when they happen. These projects will help communities better protect themselves against climate-related events and increase their resilience in the long run to keep people across B.C safer.”

Funding may be used toward:

* risk mapping, risk assessments and planning (such as the development of a hazard map);

* land-use planning (amendments to relevant plans, bylaws or policies);

* purchasing equipment (such as monitoring equipment);

* delivering community education; and

* small-scale structural projects.

More than $1.76 million is being provided to the City of Grand Forks for a flood-mitigation project that includes channel excavation, installation of 82 fish habitat structures and planting 45,000 trees and shrubs along the channel banks and riparian area along the Kettle River.

“Natural assets – things like wetlands and riparian forests – have an enormous role to play in reducing our risk from natural disasters such as flooding and wildfires,” said Roly Russell, MLA for Boundary-Similkameen. “It’s great to see the City of Grand Forks prioritizing investment into these natural assets, and our government is proud to support the city and other communities as they work to mitigate disaster risk.”

“Mitigation work completed in Grand Forks since the flood in 2018 has already proved itself fully during this year’s freshet season,” said Everett Baker, mayor of Grand Forks. “Restoring the floodplain will create important room for the river to flood and this funding will help us meet requirements to replace or restore habitats impacted by dike construction.”

Intake for the current Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Adaptation program stream is open until Oct. 6.

“As a result of our changing environment, there is considerable work to be done to better understand the risks and prepare for emergencies. Provincial funding is essential for work, and I welcome the funding announced today. The projects undertaken in these communities provide another step towards mitigating local risks and improving emergency readiness,” stated Jen Ford, Union of BC Municipalities president.

Lead image: Map showing the proposed extension for the Mountview Dike Phase 2 project. City of Fernie map

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