Image: BC Govt. / Flickr / 2021 flooding event along Highway 1 near Chilliwack.

By Fraser Valley Today Staff

Atmospheric River

City of Abbotsford says much work has been done to prevent damage from another major flood

Oct 29, 2023 | 6:00 AM

ABBOTSFORD — As the second anniversary of historic flooding through the Fraser Valley approaches, the City of Abbotsford says it is better prepared to face similar events.

In a public notice to its citizens, the City of Abbotsford outlines recovery work and improvements that have been taken since the 2021 atmospheric river event that flooded Sumas Prairie and other sections of the Fraser Valley.

Abbotsford Mayor Ross Siemens says while most lives have returned to normal, some farms in Sumas Prairie are still recovering from the devastating flood. “Over the past 22 months, we have reinforced our existing flood infrastructure and repaired the City-owned sites damaged during the November 2021 flooding event,” said Siemens. “However, there is still a lot of important work that needs to be done to ensure our families, farmers, businesses, and our provincial food system remain secure and that Highway 1, our national highway and province’s key transportation corridor, is protected.”

The public notice says all dike breaches have been repaired and in key areas, reinforcements have been made.

Critical repairs will be completed within the next few months along Clayburn Creek, developing overflow capacity to mitigate future flood events. Sediment removal has been completed at a number of locations including the Sumas Canal at Highway 1. Work at the Sumas River sediment traps is continuing between Cole Road and the United States border.

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Image: BC Govt. / Flickr / Highway 1 flooding through Abbotsford in November 2021.

The Barrowtown Pump Station has several projects underway. Up to $800 thousand will be spent to overhaul the station including the removal of pumps to replace seals, bearings and the recoating of the impellors. $6.5 million in federal and provincial funds is directed towards a project to install a backup power generator to support pumping operations in the case of a power failure. The province has guaranteed $3.2 million for the design and construction of a flood wall. An additional $5 million will be required to complete the project.

Mayor Siemens says the city submitted a $1.6 billion application for federal disaster funding to support the legacy of the Barrowtown Pump Station and the construction of a Sumas River pumping station, part of the city’s $3 billion long-term flood mitigation plan.

Image: BC Govt. / Flickr / November 2021 flooding along Highway 1 near Popkum.

Earlier this month, the City of Abbotsford joined the provincial government, Washington State, and other local governments and First Nations in signing the Transboundary Flood Initiative. The agreement commits the groups to work together to find solutions that support communities on both sides of the border.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada estimated the 2021 flood resulted in $450 million dollars in insured losses. That doesn’t take into account uninsured losses and damage to public infrastructure.

November is often the wettest month of the year through Sumas Prairie, triggering memories of the damage and hardship created by the record floods in 2021. “As a City and a Council, we share these concerns, which is why we’ve been working diligently on repairs and continue to advocate for long-term solutions here in B.C. and in Washington State,” said Siemens.