Utopia Conservation & Development Area Authority - Rouleau Flats Flood Protection Project

completed

Closed

Consists of 36,640 acres of farmland within a watershed of 137,638 acres. Rehabilitation of ditches will provide equal to the 10-year storm event, which will drastically reduce impacts of flooding with an increased number of heavy precipitation days expected. Consistent drain channel grades will reduce the time flood water remains on the land resulting from events larger than the 10-year storm event. Available freeboard at each culvert will accommodate flows slightly larger than the 10-year storm event, however, there will be a natural ’throttling’ effect at culverts for events larger than 10-year storms. Increased culvert capacity results in increased open end area suggesting that ice and snow drifts potentially blocking the crossings are less likely to cause complete blockage. The Project will prevent crop loss due to flooding, enhance cropping alternatives in the area and reduce reliance on risk management and disaster mitigation programs. The Project is intended to adapt to climate change by constructing an engineered water conveyance capable of conveying water entering the Rouleau Flats from the uplands to the natural outlet at Geisler’s Coulee. Construction of this infrastructure will alleviate several public/social and environmental impacts. Implementation of an integrated water management system will greatly reduce the occurrence of landscape flooding and the associated soil erosion.

Climate Resilience

Canada

Infrastructure Canada

Project

Water Supply and Storage, Fertilizers, Raw Materials, Waste Processing and Treatment, Government