Major flood mitigation projects coming for Calgary, High River

The province has given the go ahead for major flood mitigation projects, said Premier Alison Redford on Thursday.

Two of the projects include a diversion channel to be built around High River and the construction of a dry dam upstream of Calgary.Redford made the announcement at the annual meeting of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association in Calgary.

"It is very unlikely that humans could ever build absolutely anything that would absolutely stop flood water but what we can do is the very best that we can with the resources that we have, the knowledge that we have, the experience from the last flood to mitigate that as much as possible," said Redford.

The province will now start public consultations and environmental reviews for the project at High River and upstream of Calgary.

Redford also announcedthe province is giving the City of Calgary money to complete a feasibility study on a possible underground diversion channel from theGlenmoreReservoir to the Bow River.

The projects announced Thursday are among the recommendations made by aprovincial advisory panelset up to study flood mitigation for the province.

Redford said there are more projects coming.

She did not provide any details on the time frame or cost estimates for the projects announcedThursday.