Building a Flood Resilient Community Medicine Hat’s Overland Flow Protection Strategy

In June 2013, the City of Medicine Hat, Alberta was inundated with flood waters when the South Saskatchewan River (SSR) overtopped its banks and flooded the City’s low lying communities. In response, City Council made flood mitigation a top priority. Since then the City of Medicine Hat, along with Stantec Consulting Ltd., has moved forward with a $33 million Overland Flow Protection Strategy. The strategy consists of eight locations in need of protection, plus the installation of 38 storm outfall backflow prevention valves. Due to various constraints and limitations such as private property issues, local topography, environmental approvals and public expectations, a few of the locations were segmented into multiple project phases. In total, twelve separate projects are currently completed, moving to construction, in the design phase or awaiting further funding. This paper provides an overview of the City of Medicine Hat’s Overland Flow Protection Strategy.