The government of Alberta manages the production of riverine flood studies under the provincial Flood Hazard Identification Program, to assist communities in keeping Albertans safe and protecting their properties from floods. Flood maps improve public safety, support emergency management, and help us build safer and more resilient communities. The government of Alberta also manages the production of alluvial fan studies to help Albertans learn about flood risks in the steep terrain of Alberta’s mountain regions. Since 2020 the department has delivered over 1,600 kilometres of new flood maps, which cover more than 60 municipalities and five First Nations.  Available flood maps and alluvial fan inventories can be viewed online through the Flood Awareness Map Application. Many of Alberta’s major population centres have been recently mapped, including Edmonton and Calgary. Provincial flood maps are used by all levels of government and Indigenous communities. They help inform local land-use planning decisions, emergency management operations, and sustainable floodplain function initiatives. Flood maps are also a valuable resource when designing flood protection infrastructure and determining eligibility for post-flood provincial and federal disaster assistance. The department of Environment and Protected Areas is in the process of finalizing 27 recently created flood maps for which public engagement activities ended mid-February 2024. 13 additional flood mapping studies in flood prone areas of the province are currently underway. An additional 23 new studies are expected to be completed by 2028 under the program. The department released alluvial fan inventory in the Rocky Mountain region of the province in November 2023. The alluvial fan inventory includes information and boundaries of alluvial fans that indicate the presence of hazards to infrastructure and Albertans in mountainous regions of the province.  

Important Links:

Flood Hazard Identification Program: https://www.alberta.ca/flood-hazard-identification-program
Alluvial Fan Flooding: https://www.alberta.ca/alluvial-fan-flooding
Flood Awareness Map Application: https://floods.alberta.ca/