Mitigation efforts continue five years after Taber overland floods
It's been five years since the Municipal District and Town of Taber declared a state of emergency due to overland flooding in the area.
In that time, the M.D. and the town, along with other municipalities in the region, have been working on multiple projects to make sure this doesn't happen again.
"Many of the employees who were here at the time who had been here many, many years say they've never seen water move like it did in 2018," said Merrill Harris, Reeve for the Municipal District of Taber.
The M.D. and Town of Taber issued the state of emergency on March 28, 2018.
The flooding was caused by a record snowfall that began to melt with nowhere to go.
"North of town, we had some buildings in a bit of valley that were lifted off their foundations and were floating around in the water," Harris said.
"Down around Stafford Lake, we had one evening where the fire department had to go rescue some people from their homes because the water was coming, surrounding their homes and inundating their homes with water."
The town was also at risk of having their water treatment plant contaminated, which would have affected the majority of residents in the area.
"The water was getting very, very close and there was going to be concern that the water would breach the walls and therefore would impact our water quality," said Meghan Brennan, emergency information officer the Town of Taber.
"We worked very, very quickly to maintain ditches and berms to make sure that didn't happen."
Today, projects like the Horsefly Regional Emergency Spillway, which broke ground earlier this month, have been fast-tracked to prevent overland flooding like we saw in 2018 from happening again.
"The horsefly spillway was in the works but it really became reinforced and a real push happened after 2018 floods to get this project done," Harris told CTV News.
Once completed, it will divert overland floodwaters and storm-water runoff from the St. Mary River Irrigation District’s main canal to the Oldman River.
Nine municipalities, including the M.D. and Town of Taber, Lethbridge County, Cypress County, Medicine Hat and more, came together to make the $47-million project a reality.
"Our municipality is very thrilled to be a part of the horsefly regional spillway along with our fellow municipalities," Brennan said.
"What affects one of us affects all of us, of course, so it was imperative that we were part of that project."
"It's taken a lot of work by everybody to get that many municipalities onside, working together for a common cause," Harris added.
Both the town and municipal district are hopeful that the work done, and being done, will help avoid a reoccurrence of what was referred to as a once-in-a-century flood.
"All of us working together will make sure that if flooding ever occurs in the future, that we're ready for it and we're prepared and we did the work after that happened to make sure that what happened in 2018 won't happen again," Brennan said.
Phase 1 of the Horsefly Regional Emergency Spillway Project is set to be completed in the summer of 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.