Restless over spring flooding

Times Contributor      

 

While county crews were levelling a snow drift in Carseland that threatened to flood alleyways and local garages, officials were considering bigger worries with melting snow creating havoc on local roadways. 

On April 10, Wheatland County posted a precautionary high water level alert ‘as there are elevated water levels in streams, rivers, and other bodies of water that may create dangerous situations, or lead to flooding’. 

The following roads were or are currently closed due to the wet conditions:

• Township road 252 between range road 262 and 263. 

• Township road 252 between range road 255 and 261

• Range road 243A Namaka road south west exit. 

• Range road 243 between township road 274 and 280. 

• Township road 272 between range road 231 and 225 

• Range road 234 between township road 232 and 230 including township road 230 between range road 233and 234.

The county is advising motorists to avoid areas surrounding rivers, valleys and low-lying areas. In view of last year’s flooding, officials are watching the water tables and forecasts to try and predict areas that will experience extreme change due to melting conditions.

Flooded roadways are nothing new for locals who have lived here for a number of years. Seasoned farmers can tell you which roads in their area typically flood and when they will probably be good enough to use. If there isn’t a local prognosticator close, a quick boo at the website is not a bad idea.

Posting advisories are part of the province’s pledge to keep the public better informed about flooding dangers. The county is on board with this, as it is always looking for ways to keep residents safe from potential risks within county borders.

The provincial warning system calculates spring runoff based on three main factors: moisture conditions in the fall, snow accumulation in the winter and the rate of melt and actual precipitation during runoff season itself. Experts say by combining models of water flow, geological characteristics and meteorological trends, more accurate predictions of how and where water is going to go can be predicted. Along with improved flood hazard maps, a better awareness can be determined of high-risk areas and dangers arising from floods. The Alberta government has been working on modelling projects, which will be completed in May. 

However, it is clear there are already signs showing water levels are high, and they are making people hit by last year’s flooding a little restless, in spite of flood mediation projects that were implemented to correct last year’s weak points.

According to David Sauchyn, a researcher with the Prairie Adaption Research Collaborative, there will be many wet years ahead for Alberta. He is not alone in his predictions. The recent United Nations review of climate change reports states the CO2 levels are setting the stage for floods, droughts and less crop yields in many countries of the world. 

With last year’s flooding fresh in people’s minds, officials encouraged individuals to develop emergency plans that would aid them in emergency situations. An annual RBC study on water attitudes says 74 per cent of those surveyed agreed climate change will cause extreme weather to occur more frequently, but the RBC study also showed only nine per cent of those polled had taken precautions to protect themselves and their homes from high water. One in five respondents said they live in an area vulnerable to flooding.

So it might be a good reminder, if you haven’t taken those gumboots out of storage, it may be a good time to consider it. Best case scenario is to use them to play in the puddles with the kids. Worst case scenario is they can be part of a household emergency kit that should be put together sooner rather than later. Staff at the Wheatland County office, Town of Strathmore, or the FCSS offices can help with information on what should be included and what measures can be taken to protect families in emergencies. The County website will continue to monitor weather, along with other emergencies local residents should be aware of to ensure residents remain as safe as possible. www.wheatlandcounty.ca.