British Columbia — Surrey is ensuring that homes and farms are safe from flooding along a vulnerable segment of the Nicomekl River dike after a combined investment of more than $1.3 M from the federal, provincial, and municipal governments. This was announced by John Aldag, Member of Parliament for Cloverdale—Langley City, and the Honourable Bowinn Ma, B.C. Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.
This project will replace three aging sets of culverts, upgrade two spillways that control the release of flood water, and reinforce the dike height to help prevent waves from flowing back up the dike. Once completed, the project will help protect more than one kilometre of Highway 15 –a regional link to the Pacific Highway border crossing— more than 40 buildings, including homes and barns, over 400 hectares of agricultural lands, portions of 48th Avenue and 184th Street, and 500 metres of the provincial Roberts Bank Railway corridor.
This investment is supporting Surrey’s award-winning Coastal Flood Adaptation Strategy for the coastal floodplain area and build on the 2019 federal investment in coastal flood protection for the cities of Surrey and Delta, and the Semiahmoo First Nation. Making adaptation investments now will have major economy-wide benefits later. Every dollar that is invested in adapting and preparing for climate-related disasters can return as much as $13 to $15 in benefits.
“Today’s investment in the Nicomekl River dike upgrades will safeguard homes and livelihoods in Surrey, Delta, and the Semiahmoo First Nation from the impacts of climate change and the stronger, more frequent storms all Canadians are experiencing. We will continue to invest in disaster mitigation projects that reduce the risks of flooding and build more resilient communities.” – John Aldag, MP for Cloverdale—Langley City, on behalf of Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities