'Long overdue' dikeland upgrades coming to rural N.S. community

A rural Nova Scotia community on the Bay of Fundy is preparing for the most significant upgrades in decades to the dikeland system that protects it from flooding.

The work has been approved for Advocate Harbour, N.S., which has been identified as being at risk due to rising sea levels caused by climate change.

People who live along the shore of the coastal community got to see plans for the project at a meeting in April.

"It's been a long time coming," said Linda Black, whose home is within a couple of hundred metres of the shore. "It's scary when the tide is in full and that water is up to the top of the rocks."

Her neighbour Mike Berry recalls the water being at his fence line during a storm in 2019.

"The cattle were stranded on the high points. There was no damage, but it just put things in perspective," Berry said.

The upgrades will see the height of the dike walls increased by two metres to an elevation of 7.6 metres in some parts.

They will also be extended by an additional 500 metres to provide added protection to the community.

The project is equally funded by the provincial and federal governments through a disaster mitigation and adaptation fund.

Climate change is the big driver for the reinforcement work, with projections in Nova Scotia showing sea levels are anticipated to rise up to one metre by 2100.

"The risk currently is that we're seeing flooding in certain regions of Nova Scotia and with the dike increase in height, we would protect the town and local infrastructure and agricultural farmlands from that flooding," said Jessica LeBlanc, a project engineer for the provincial Department of Public Works.

While the dikes are continually maintained, LeBlanc said there has not been extensive work on them since the 1950s.

The site is one of 16 the province earmarked for upgrades based on their vulnerability.

Thousands of tons of armour rock will be needed to build up the seaward side of the dike, with grass on the land side, she said.

The number of trucks that will be carrying rock through the community is a concern for the owners of the Wild Caraway restaurant.

They are worried that the amount of construction might spoil the experience for their guests, who could also lose some of the impressive harbour view when the dike is raised.

However, they're also pleased there will be added defence from any possible storm surges.

"It's always in the back of our minds," said Marchel Strong, the councillor for the area, who is also a volunteer firefighter and has been part of the flood risk committee.

"It's not if, it's when we have another breach. And it could be anytime," Strong said. "So it's definitely something that is long overdue."

People in the area prefer the option that is now going ahead rather than raising up the road, which Strong said could have resulted in having to relocate the post office.

And she's happy that on top of the dike there will be walking trails people can explore when the tide is out.

"It'll make it much more viable for tourists," Strong said, estimating the project will cost about $7 million.

The Advocate Country Store, located close to the shoreline, is pleased to know the embankments will be strengthened.

The residential care facility just across the street, which already has a disaster plan in place, also thinks the work is important.

"If a big storm happened and the dike breached, we would be quite vulnerable as our residents would have to be transported elsewhere and the community is quite isolated," said Bernadette Frank, the administrator of Chignecto Manor.

There is still some permitting and regulatory work to be done, but the province expects work will start in the fall. The sheer size of the project means it will also take some time, with the province estimating construction will last up to two years.