Springbank Dam clears major hurdle, leaving residents with uncertain future
Tracey Feist grew up on the ranch along the southern bank of the Elbow River. Now retired, she drinks water from the same well she did as a little girl.
She lives just a few hundred metres from the proposed dam and diversion structure meant to reduce the power of the Elbow River during future flood events.
If the project goes ahead, she fears her water could change forever.
"I have multiple concerns with he project but the one that affects me greatly on our ranch is our water – our water wells that could be impacted by the construction," Feist says, standing by a small spring-fed creek.
"We’re just going to have to start monitoring to see if there’s any effect from the construction from across the road.”
The project was a direct response to the floods of 2013, which caused more than $5 billion in damage. Another lower cost mitigation option was proposed for McLean Creek, but that was turned down in 2015 by then-Premier Jim Prentice's PC government.
The Springbank plan includes a kilometre-long berm that will retain flood waters, creating a temporary lake up to five metres deep. It will also require raising sections of Highway 22 south of Highway 1 by another five metres.
It will also require the government to force local landowners to sell enough property to build the 1,500-hectare property. In many cases that land has been in the same family since around the 1890's.
"For those families it’s a bitter pill to swallow when they feel that there was a better alternative," says Karin Hunter of the Springbank Community Association, referring to the rejected McLean Creek reservoir plan.
The area is largely uncultivated native prairie grassland Hunter says. Once the reservoir is filled, it will leave a deep layer of silt which will dry up and blow across neighbouring communities.
"This is land in its natural state – this is the most threatened ecosystem in Canada and it will be bulldozed. It will be ruined," says Hunter.
The land is also home to at least two grizzly bears, as well as a large herd of elk.
The project still needs federal approval to move ahead.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man books $7,700 luxury villa on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he was charged more than $7,700 to book a luxury villa on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.