Lower Mainland Flood Management Strategy Resources
Phase 1
Here are reports and materials from Phase 1 of the Lower Mainland Flood Management Strategy, which completed in May 2016. Phase 1 included an analysis of Lower Mainland flood scenarios, a regional assessment of flood vulnerabilities, and a review of current flood protection works and practices.
REPORTS
Phase 1 Summary Report: Lower Mainland Flood Management Strategy initiative (May 2016)
Report: Simulating the Effects of Sea Level Rise and Climate Change on Fraser River Flood Scenarios
Report: Analysis of Flood Scenarios
Report: Regional Assessment of Flood Vulnerability (Final Report with Appendices) (April 2016)
Lower Mainland Dike Assessment
MAPS
The Phase 1 Summary report and Regional Assessment of Flood Vulnerability report refer to to Coastal Flood Scenarios (A and B) and Fraser River Flood Scenarios (C and D) maps: see Lower Mainland Flood Management Strategy Maps (Phase 1).
Phase 2
Here are resources from Phase 2 of the Lower Mainland Flood Management Strategy, currently in progress.
REPORT
Please contact the FBC flood program staff if you require report appendices. Government agencies with flood management responsibilities are welcome to contact the team with any queries respecting the flood risk data portal.
BRIEFINGS
Flood Modelling and Mapping in BC’s Lower Mainland: A Project Primer (July 2019)
- See also LMFMS Maps
Flood Strategy Briefing (June 2020)
Flood Strategy Briefing (July 2019)
Flood Strategy Briefing (May 2018)
Flood Strategy Briefing (September 2017)
MAPS
See Lower Mainland Flood Management Strategy Maps for maps developed in Phase 2. These include:
- Lower Mainland flood modelling scenario maps and animations
- Flood and Environment Atlas
VIDEOS
When the Waters Rise is a two-part video series from 2020 that offers an overview of Fraser River and coastal flood hazards in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland, the expected impacts of a large-scale flood in the region, and opportunities for flood risk reduction:
- Part 1: Preparing for the big flood in BC’s Lower Mainland
- Part 2; Priorities and choices in BC’s Lower Mainland
The focus of the videos is large-scale Fraser River and coastal floods, which are the floods most likely to have widespread impacts across the Lower Mainland. Other types of flood, however, can also be serious. These include periods of heavy, sustained rainfall, such as the atmospheric rivers that resulted in the Nooksack River flooding of Sumas Prairie in November 2021,
Work continues in 2022 on a Lower Mainland Flood Management Strategy (LMFMS), with participation of governments and other organizations with flood management responsibilities or interests in the region. Participants provided input on a preliminary working draft (Draft 1) in 2021. However, more work is ahead to strengthen the initiative, ensure the full participation of First Nations and determine common strategic directions.
Some communities in the region are also working on local priorities for flood risk reduction. Check with your local government or other local authority for information on local flood plans, flood works and flood risk reduction in your community.
Lower Mainland Modelled Flood Scenario Examples
This video from 2019 illustrates three sample flood scenarios simulated using the Lower Fraser 2D Flood Model during Phase 2 of the Lower Mainland Flood Management Strategy initiative. The 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.
For background, see Flood Modelling and Mapping in BC’s Lower Mainland: A Project Primer (July 2019).
Find maps and short animations reflecting these and other flood scenarios in LMFMS Maps.