Flood Containment Berm in Jasper National Park

proposed

CN Rail is urging Parks Canada to consider constructing a flood containment berm in Jasper National Park to prevent flooding from the Snake Indian River, which poses a risk to the park and the nearby railway. The river is at risk of avulsion, which could cause catastrophic impacts including train derailment and long-term cessation of east-west rail service. Several proposals have been made over the past eight years, but none have been approved by Parks Canada. The latest proposal in January 2024 included two options: building a berm with materials from outside the park or using gravel dredged from the river, with the latter being more favorable but opposed by Parks Canada due to regulatory concerns.