Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
COOFANDY Mens Short Sleeve Shirts Buy Now
Kenneth Cole REACTION Mens Jeans Slim Fit Buy Now
PELADN Mini PC Intel N5095 Buy Now
Classic Amanda High Rise Tapered Jeans Buy Now
Oil Sprayer for Cooking Buy Now
The Ultimate Fitness Journal Buy Now
Legendary Flannel Buy Now
Men's Flat Front Trousers Buy Now
Crocs Classic Clogs Buy Now
Musey Yoga Tank Top Buy Now
4K Vlogging Camera with 3" Flip Screen Buy Now
Under Armour UA Tech™ Team ½ Zip Buy Now
Skechers Gowalk Arch Fit Idyllic Buy Now
6-Port 50W Multi-Device Charging Dock Buy Now
Lee Men's Regular Fit Straight Leg Jean Buy Now
COOFANDY Men's Slim Fit Knit Sweater Buy Now
Wacky Waving Inflatable Tube Guy Buy Now
Men's Lightweight Bomber Jacket Buy Now
Regular Fit Straight Leg Jean Buy Now
RUNBOX Slim RFID Leather Wallet Buy Now
MoreBack to News Headlines
With walls, berms and raised roads, Fort McMurray is working to keep its river from overflowing

With walls, berms and raised roads, Fort McMurray is working to keep its river from overflowing

CBC
Sunday, December 29, 2024 6:17 AM GMT

Ever since the devastating spring floods of 2020 in Fort McMurray, the northeastern Alberta community has been shoring up its defences against rising rivers.

Now, officials with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) say Fort McMurray is better prepared for future floods. 

"From a permanent structural mitigation standpoint, there's been significant works completed," said James Semple, manager of RMWB's project management office. 

It has spent $119 million on flood mitigation so far; the remaining work that is planned will bring the total expenditure to about $270 million, according to a statement on the RMWB's website. 

Semple said the aim is to prepare the community for another one-in-100-year flood — which is what Fort McMurray experienced in 2020 — as well as a one-in-200-year flood, in which the river would rise by another half-metre or so.

Preparation means damages to residents and businesses would be appropriately mitigated, he said.

Fort McMurray sits at the confluence of the Athabasca and Clearwater rivers. When ice on these two rivers breaks up in the spring, it can create literal dams in the river. As water backs up, it eventually overflows the banks and can flood low-lying parts of town.

Ice jams tend to form downstream of Fort McMurray, where the Athabasca changes shape, said Nadia Kovachis, a river hydraulics and ice engineer with Alberta River Forecast Centre. 

"The river really flattens out, which encourages sediment deposition, and this causes the river to be wider, with many more sandbars and islands. And these things kind of all work together to encourage ice jam formation," she said.

Fort McMurray has a long history of spring floods caused by ice jams on the Athabasca River, with records of extreme incidents going back to 1835. Of 17 notable floods since then, 16 were caused by ice jams. 

The 2020 flood was caused by a massive 25-kilometre ice jam on the Athabasca. Water from both rivers spilled into downtown, forced about 12,000 people from their homes and caused more than $520 million in insured damage.

After the 2020 flood, an engineering report found that the municipality's flood mitigation system was incomplete and flawed.

Kovachis said it's difficult to predict when ice jam flooding will happen. That's why the mitigation measures are so important.

In September, the RMWB council approved going ahead with structural mitigation between the Clearwater River and nearby Clearwater Drive. This work is the final phase of permanent flood mitigation efforts for downtown Fort McMurray, the municipality said. 

Read full story on CBC
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
Snow Lake put on evacuation alert as northwestern Manitoba wildfire threatens town

The rapid growth of a massive wildfire in northwestern Manitoba has put yet another threatened community on alert.

B.C. port foremen's union and employers ratify 4-year deal

Maritime employers in British Columbia and the union representing port foremen say they have ratified a new four-year collective agreement, after a dispute that saw workers locked out of container terminals last year.

Oilers beat Panthers 4-3 in OT in Game 1 of Stanley Cup rematch

The Edmonton Oilers won Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final against the Florida Panthers Wednesday after Leon Draisaitl netted his second of the night with 31 seconds remaining in overtime on a setup from Connor McDavid.

Health P.E.I., McMaster University partner to fast-track international medical graduates

Health P.E.I. is collaborating with McMaster University in Ontario to help fast-track foreign-trained physicians become licenced work on the Island.

AESO proposes short-term limit on power new large-load data centres amid Alberta's unprecedented demand

The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) is introducing temporary limit on how many new data centres can be added to the electrical grid, as the province experiences un unprecedented surge of project proposals.

Officials expect 'significant wildfire growth' at blaze on B.C.-Alta. border

Officials in British Columbia are warning of dangerous conditions for a raging wildfire on the B.C.-Alberta border in northeastern B.C., which has already resulted in evacuation orders.

Yukon gov't sets new goals for student happiness and well-being in 10-year plan

A new 10-year education strategy being introduced in Yukon schools next year will test students' happiness, confidence and connection to the land, though the metric for measuring those goals haven't been shared yet.

Marc Garneau, 1st Canadian astronaut in space, dead at age 76

Former astronaut and cabinet minister Marc Garneau has died. He was 76.

'So shocking': Murder trial begins for man accused of killing 2nd sex worker in 14 years

It's been a decade since Kathryn Furlan sat alone in the gallery of a Calgary courtroom but she returned Wednesday to bear witness, as the man who killed her daughter goes on trial a second time, once again accused of murdering a vulnerable woman he'd just met.

Ontario passes controversial mining law as Doug Ford warns against blockades

Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government has given itself the power to suspend provincial and municipal laws for chosen projects in areas it deems to have economic importance.

N.W.T. man charged with assault after weekend incident in Fort Smith

An N.W.T. man has been arrested and charged in connection with a reported assault in Fort Smith over the weekend. 

NDP to vote against throne speech, forcing Liberals to find support elsewhere

Interim NDP Leader Don Davies says his party will be voting against the government's throne speech, meaning the Liberals will need to get support from another opposition party to survive the confidence vote.

Doctors warn of 'frightening' measles complication that can strike a decade after initial infection

As Alberta's measles case counts soar, doctors and scientists are warning parents about the long-term and lesser-known complications of measles.

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
Mystery leak that forced Scarborough family from home spreads as city continues to investigate

A mystery leak that's forced a Scarborough family from their home for the past month appears to be spreading. 

Small but 'life-changing' policy helps Parkinson's patients who need emergency care at Guelph's hospital

When people go to the emergency department, they're not allowed to take their own medications while they wait, which Theresa Daly says can be a huge problem for people with Parkinson's.

UPEI food bank prepares for surge in use with tuition hike set for upcoming academic year

The University of Prince Edward Island's food bank is bracing for what a fall tuition increase could mean for the students who use the service. 

Yukon launches its 1st-ever family medicine residency program

The Yukon is launching its first-ever medical residency program.

Trump's 'big, beautiful' tax reform bill could cost Canadians billions

A small, obscure section buried in U.S. President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act could cost Canadians and Canadian companies billions of dollars, CBC News has learned.

Albertans for Carney? They're as impressed with new PM as they are with Poilievre: poll

EDITOR'S NOTE: CBC News commissioned this public opinion research to be conducted immediately following the federal election and leading into the second anniversary of the United Conservative Party's provincial election win in May 2023. 

Demand for water bombers has 'skyrocketed' as Canada grapples with more intense wildfires

As Canada is again dealing with massive wildfires, the increasing severity of the natural disasters is having the knock-on effect of spiking the demand for water bomber planes — and it will be years before Canada gets its hands on a new one.

GTA mom questions how non-verbal child was able to board bus, GO train alone

Valerie Loewen panicked when she woke in early April to find her 9-year-old son William had left their Milton, Ont., house by himself.

Can roundabouts help reduce crashes at rural intersections?

Twice in the past two weeks, the scenic country roads outside of London have been the scene of fatal vehicle collisions. 

No public trust without police oversight board, says First Voice

Public confidence in police accountability is down, especially among Indigenous people in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Scammers attempting to cash in on missing Sullivan kids case: SAR group

A Halifax search team warned Tuesday that "fraudulent individuals and organizations" are impersonating them and asking for money under the guise of trying to find Lilly and Jack Sullivan, the two Pictou County children who have been missing since May 2.

Man found guilty of manslaughter in Moncton casino manager's death

A Moncton jury found Michael Glaspy guilty Wednesday of manslaughter in the death of a casino manager who was fatally assaulted on the job two years ago.

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us