Open House scheduled to involve the community in the development of long-term coastal flood protection options

The District of Squamish is updating its 20-year old flood hazard management plan and will host an Open House to involve the public in this important process. The Open House will provide information on flood risks in Squamish and seeks public feedback on long-term coastal flood protection options to protect against anticipated sea level rise. A system of flood protection options including sea dikes and flood gates along Squamish’s coastal perimeter will be introduced for feedback and discussion. The Open House will take place October 23 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Squamish Adventure Centre.

The Integrated Flood Hazard Management Plan (IFHMP) project will complete a comprehensive update of the existing 20-year-old plan.  The IFHMP is being conducted with new modelling techniques and will respond to provincial legislative changes and guidelines that have been introduced since the 1994 plan was completed.  The District’s consulting team is led by Kerr Wood Leidal and assisted by specialized expertise in coastal engineering, environmental assessment, geotechnical engineering and land use planning. 

The development of the IFHMP will be a two year process, which began in spring 2014.  An extensive background analysis has been prepared, which is available on the District website.  The October 23^rd event at the Adventure Centre is the first of three planned Open Houses throughout the project.  Future Open Houses will take place in the summer of 2015 and the winter of 2015/16.

Public involvement is an important element in the IFHMP as a majority of neighbourhoods in the District are subject to various coastal and river flood hazards. Flood risks can be managed in a variety of different manners, each with different transportation, environmental and financial impacts. Public input into these various options will allow the options to be shaped with consideration of a variety of different needs and opinions.

The public is invited to provide input into this important project by attending the Open House. Additional information is available under Projects & Initiatives on our website.

October 17, 2014