TIMELINE:
The strategy is expected to include:
Key deliverables for Phase 2 are:
Phase 2 Highlights
Phase 2 (2016 — present) of the Lower Mainland Flood Management Strategy (LMFMS) initiative is aimed at developing a regional strategy to reduce flood risk and increase the flood resilience of communities along the lower Fraser and South Coast. Phase 2 builds on the work in Phase 1 through the collaboration of four orders of government and other bodies having responsibilities for flood management in the region.
Work in this phase has included Fraser River and coastal flood scenario mapping and a risk assessment for the region to inform the strategy.
A preliminary working draft of a strategy (Draft 1) was provided to organizations participating in the flood strategy process for focused input in early 2021. There was significant support among the participants on some parts of the draft strategy, and divergent views expressed on other parts. More work is needed to continue engagement and dialogue and to seek common direction on regional flood management priorities and other strategic issues. The Leadership Committee of the LMFMS is also reviewing the structure and scope of the initiative. Steps are expected to strengthen the participation of First Nations, in alignment with the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and requirements of BC’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act).
Given the work ahead, more time is needed to finalize the strategy. The initiative may be extended to March, 2024, depending on decisions of the Leadership Committee and available funding.
Lower Mainland flood risk reduction calls for significant investments and policy commitments over the long term. It is therefore important that the Strategy “get it right.” Just as important is that progress on long-term solutions should not delay priority actions and investments that can help reduce flood risk in the near term. The devastating impacts of Nooksack River flooding of Sumas Prairie in November 2021 show the importance of both short-term and long-term measures.
BC’s Lower Mainland Flood Management Strategy
Latest Updates
Resource Profile: Flood Scenarios
— Resource Profile: Flood Modelling Scenarios — May 2022 The Lower Fraser 2D Flood Model was used to simulate over 20 different scenarios to reflect floods of different sizes, projected climate change impacts and hypothetical sample dike breaches. Find an overview of this work in
Resource Profile: BC Flood Investigations Reports
— Resource Profile: BC Flood Investigations Reports — May 2022 Our Flood Management Resources section is set to expand, so be sure to loop back – and offer your suggestions on resources colleagues will want to read and reference, such as Investigations in Support of
Strategy Work-in-Progress Update
— Draft 1 Work in Progress Update — August 2021 The Lower Mainland Flood Management Strategy is intended to better reduce flood risk and support all orders of government and other organizations that share flood management responsibilities in the region. Through to March, 2021 the
Projects
Here’s a quick list of Phase 2 projects in the Lower Mainland Flood Management Strategy.
Find details in Phase 2 Projects. Find resources in Flood Strategy Resources and LMFMS Maps.
PROJECTS COMPLETED
RELATED FLOOD PROJECTS
Who is Involved?
Over 60 governments, agencies and other bodies with responsibilities and interests in flood management have been involved in Phase 2 of the Lower Mainland Flood Management Strategy initiative. In some cases, these participants have provided funding support, in–kind support or input on components of the work.
The Leadership Committee was formed in 2016 to represent federal, provincial, local and First Nations governments and to provide guidance and advice on the strategy vision and goals and other content with an emphasis on funding and decision making for strategy implementation.
The Leadership Committee is currently reviewing the overall strategy development process, with the intention of strengthening the mandate, scope, membership and decision-making roles for the initiative.
A Joint Program Committee (JPC) for Integrated Flood Hazard Management, project advisory committees and working groups have provided input to strategy development in Phase 2. The JPC and working groups are composed primarily of representatives of organizations having flood responsibilities in the Lower Mainland.
The Emergency Planning Secretariat (EPS) has led engagement with First Nations on the LMFMS development.
The Fraser Basin Council serves as the facilitator and coordinator of the Phase 2 process, with guidance from the Leadership Committee and input from participants. FBC reports on progress to the Leadership Committee, advisory committees and participating organizations.