Springbank dam environmental assessment welcomed by landowners and Tsuut'ina
Federal agency will examine flood-mitigation project that would divert water from Elbow River
Albertans affected by the controversial Springbank flood mitigation project are welcoming news of a federal assessment.
The province's plan to build a diversion channel and reservoir off the Elbow River west of Calgary will have to wait, after the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency announced Thursday it will be reviewed.
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"We're very happy that they've pushed pause on this project," said Ryan Robinson, whose family will lose their century-old cattle ranch if the project — designed to protect Calgary and other communities from future floods — goes ahead.
Landowners
He's part of a group called Don't Damn Springbank, which has been vocal in its opposition to the project.
"If there's a better choice than to destroy one community to try and save another, we think that this process will help push that forward," he said.
"There is an alternative in McLean Creek, which is entirely on provincial land, that we hope that this process will help the government reconsider that option."
The McLean Creek dam was rejected by the Alberta government based on its environmental impact, cost and extended timelines.
The Springbank project will affect dozens of landowners in the area, gobbling up 3,610 acres of land so that water can be redirected into the dam in the case of a flood.
Tsuut'ina
The Tsuut'ina First Nation says it wasn't consulted by the province even though the project is less than three football fields from its reserve.
Spokesperson Kevin Littlelight said the nation is also pleased with the federal review.
"It's a good starting point to be fair to all sides, you know. And if it's the federal government, that means it's supposed to be neutral and we can measure our reports against it. At least they're studying, whereas it's not just bulldozers moving in," he said.
It's concerned the project will impact traditional activities such as hunting and fishing in the area and could cause more flooding issues on the reserve.
Brian Mason, Alberta's minister of transportation and infrastructure, has been adamant that the project will move forward.
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With files from Jennifer Lee