The City of Delta is getting provincial funding for flood planning in Ladner.
The province last week announced that Delta and 37 other local governments and First Nations will receive dollars from the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, administered through the Union of BC Municipalities, for projects to better prepare for, mitigate and respond to emergencies.
The latest round of funding totals $5.1 million to prevent, eliminate or reduce potential hazards through flood planning.
Delta will receive $149,000 for the Ladner Waterfront Flood Protection Strategy.
Meanwhile, the city has been working on a flood management strategy for the River Road West area.
Among the key components is long-term flood protection to address rising sea levels due to climate change, including raising the dike by approximately 0.6 metres by 2050 with provisions to raise the dike a further 0.6 metres by 2100.
Given the costly nature of the project, significant federal and provincial funding assistance will be required to move the final design forward, according to the City of Delta, which notes it is important to have a design ready, should funding become available.
According to a report this year by the Fraser Basin Council, which has outlined a draft Lower Mainland Flood Management Strategy, the economic losses from a significant flood are projected to range between $20-to-$30 billion.
The hazard area for flooding extends across 31 Coast Salish First Nations communities, 26 municipalities and two regional districts. Delta and Richmond were identified as particularly vulnerable.
