Alberta set to launch new Drought and Flood Protection Program

Pending the passing of Budget 2024, $125 million is set to be invested over the next five years for Alberta’s new Drought and Flood Protection Program.

This program is designed to help vulnerable municipalities and Indigenous communities across the province develop the long-term infrastructure needed to improve their drought and flood resilience and adapt to severe weather.

The Drought and Flood Protection Program would help fund the design and construction of projects that protect critical infrastructure from flooding and drought and help to protect public safety. This could include projects to relocate or drought-proof critical infrastructure, improve drainage or water retention ponds, and stabilize riverbanks or construct flood barriers. The program would be application-based and municipalities, improvement districts, special areas, Metis Settlements and First Nations would all be eligible to apply.

“Droughts and floods can devastate public infrastructure and private property, disrupt our economy, damage the environment, and put lives at risk,” says Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas. “The new Drought and Flood Protection Program would help communities across the province build the practical infrastructure they need to help protect people’s homes and keep businesses going, regardless of the weather.”

The Drought and Flood Protection Program builds on the work of the Alberta Community Resilience Program, which ended in 2020. Additional program details, including eligibility requirements, application deadlines and cost-sharing components, will be released when the program opens later this year.

This is part of the Alberta government’s work to prepare for the risk of a severe drought this year and develop the long-term strategies and infrastructure needed to help maximize Alberta’s long-term water supply. Recent actions include standing up the Drought Command Team, creating the new Water Advisory Committee, conducting advanced modelling and launching the largest voluntary water-sharing discussions in provincial history.