$33M Bragg Creek flood mitigation berm plan worries residents

Some residents of Bragg Creek say a flood mitigation plan that calls for a two-kilometre stretch of berms along the riverbank would ruin the hamlet's aesthetics.

The area was devastated by the 2013 floods and now Rocky View County says berms are the best way to protect the community from a future disaster.

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At an open house on Wednesday, officials unveiled plans for the berms, which would stretch along the Elbow River at heights of one to three metres.

John Lowry is worried about what the project will do to his riverfront property.

"Is it going to encroach on my property? We have 89 or 90 mature trees on my property, are they going to take down those trees? Are we going to be able to see the river?" he said.

Those issues have all yet to be determined, says Rocky View Coun. Liz Breakey.

"I guess it's a choice of being able to sleep at night or knowing you could be washed away in the flood," she said.

The province is committing $33 million to this project, provided that the berms are built to a certain level of protection.

"We could build it less, but we wouldn't get funding for it. That's the bottom line," said Breakey.

Bragg Creek residentBeata Pankiw says the bermswill cut off access to the river and make the hamlet less attractive.

"There's no showing any kind of beautification of the town with the dykes, it's just all about protection but it impacts every business and all the local residents as well," she said.

The plan will go for approval to county council early next month.

Breakey says the projectcould take up to three years to complete.