City of Calgary river level warning, June 14, 2022. (Photo: City of Calgary)

By Canadian Press

Calgary prepares for potential flooding along Bow and Elbow rivers

Jun 14, 2022 | 4:29 PM

CALGARY – Preparations for potential flooding are underway in Calgary as rainfall warnings continue and rivers start to swell across southern Alberta.

Environment Canada expects rainfall totals of between 75 millimetres and 125 millimetres by Wednesday morning in parts of the province.

The heaviest rainfall is predicted for the western region — 150 millimetres or more along the foothills and eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.

John Pomeroy, a University of Saskatchewan hydrologist and Canada Research Chair in water resources and climate change, said precipitation has already been high in Kananaskis, which is west of Calgary.

“Some of these places have had 130 millimetres … since yesterday,” he said Tuesday. “They’ve got a lot more to come.

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“So, they are going to pass 150 easily and head toward 200 which, of course, is a concern.”

Pomeroy said that includes the headwaters of the Elbow, Highwood and Sheep rivers, as well as Fish Creek and Jumping Pound Creek. The stream flows, he said, are also increasing.

Alberta Environment has flood watches on several rivers, including the Highwood upstream of High River, Alta., and the Bow and Elbow upstream of Calgary.

Both communities were hit hard during flooding in 2013, which left at least five people dead and caused billions of dollars in damage across southern Alberta.

Calgary has issued a high stream flow advisory on both the Elbow and Bow rivers and water levels have been lowered in upstream reservoirs to make room for potential floodwater.

The city also declared a state of local emergency late Monday afternoon.

Sal Howell, who owns the River Café on Prince’s Island Park in Calgary, said she’s prepared for any potential flooding.

“This isn’t the first time for us,” she said. “We’ve been operating on Prince’s Island for 31 years and the island, of course, sits in the middle of the Bow River. It’s a beautiful park, but we are definitely in a floodway.”

Howell said she and her staff, as well as family and friends, spent Monday moving fresh produce and thousands of bottles of wine from the restaurant’s cellar to a safe place.

“We are hoping for the best, but gearing up for the worst.”

Howell said the restaurant had extensive flood damage in 2013, so they have learned many valuable lessons.

“I am amazed at how quickly we were able to move yesterday,” she said.

Howell said the city is installing a Tiger Dam — flexible tubes that work as a flood barrier — on the island.

The city also closed Memorial Drive, a major roadway along the Bow River, to build a temporary berm to help protect communities north of the river.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 14, 2022.

The Canadian Press