Creston will be receiving funds from the provincial government to create a stormwater management master plan to better protect the town during major climate events.
The Town of Creston will be receiving $150,000 of the $39 million available to 50 governments through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund.
“This new approach takes a strong emphasis on nature-based solutions, which I’m excited about,” explained Nelson-Creston MLA Birttny Anderson.
“It incorporates things like bioswales, rain gardens, and constructed wetlands as central components of their master plan. By targeting areas previously identified as vulnerable to stormwater accumulation, they’re going to be integrating green infrastructure that will serve a dual role.”
Anderson adds it will help stormwater be managed more effectively and allow for habitats to be created for local flora and fauna.
“Instead of having all of the water just immediately flow into pipes and into the ground, when we’re able to use nature-based solutions it will mean that there’s a habitat for things like birds and insects. And, this habitat helps with stormwater and mitigates flooding.”
Anderson says the Town of Creston determined that they needed to upgrade the master plan.
“We know now that we don’t just want pipes in the ground to be dealing with our stormwater. Having nature-based solutions helps to protect us when we have extreme weather events. And this can also help to mitigate some of the flooding. This is really to update it to keep our community safer, and it’s part of our overall BC flood strategy.”
The provincial government is launching a new comprehensive flood strategy that is meant to prepare BC for potential extreme weather events.
Another Kootenay community, the Village of Warfield, will be receiving $150,000 for the Trail Creek Floodplain Mapping.