Alberta flood devastation prompts plan for permanent dike at Calgary Zoo

The city is going ahead with a $25-millionplanto build a dike and otherprotection measures for the Calgary Zootwo years after floodwaters roared through southern Alberta,shuttingdown the facility for months.

Water from the Bow River flooded the zoo's 32-acre island in 2013, damaging animal enclosures, botanical exhibits and 40 buildings.

A number of fish including cichlids, piranhas and tilapia perished, along with four peacocks. A pot belly pig died from stress.

There was more than $50 millionin damage, and the zoo was closed for several months, with many animals relocated.

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The city has now filed an application under the Water Act to build a dike around St. George's Island, home to most of the zoo's major exhibits.

"We did a lot of cost-benefit analysis around, 'Is it cheaper to fortify the island or is it cheaper to move the zoo?' And it's actually much cheaper to fortify the island,"said Calgary MayorNaheedNenshi.

The city would like to start construction next spring, and is asking the province to help foot the bill.

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"We have to get this done and so hopefully we'll have provincial partners who recognize the valuable asset that the CalgaryZoo is, not just to the City of Calgary and the citizens of Calgary, but to Alberta," said Coun.Gian-CarloCarra, whose ward houses the zoo.

Construction ofthe dike would involvesignificant regulations,according to Carra.

"We know what we need to do, we know what it's going tocost, and now we're exploring the permitting, which is a major deal, because of course anything in a body of water brings the feds in, brings the province in," he said.