Report says reservoir costs higher than future flood damage

A car drives along Springbank Road into the area that is ground zero for the Springbank dam and reservoir. Area residents are trying the fight the province’s plan.
Photograph by: Colleen De Neve , Calgary Herald

Report says reservoir costs higher than future flood damage

By Matt McClure, Calgary Herald October 18, 2014

The Alberta government says an estimated $160-million diversion canal and dry reservoir west of Calgary is a “cost-effective” solution to protecting city residents vulnerable to flooding.

But the province’s own preliminary analysis shows it would be cheaper to compensate homeowners for damages every time the Elbow River overflows its banks during the next century than pay now for the massive mitigation project.

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