Springbank dam environmental assessment welcomed by landowners and Tsuut'ina

Albertans affected by the controversial Springbankflood mitigation project are welcoming news of a federal assessment.

The province's planto build a diversion channel and reservoir off the Elbow River west of Calgary will have to wait, after theCanadian Environmental Assessment Agency announcedThursday itwill be reviewed.

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"We're very happy that they've pushed pause on this project," saidRyan Robinson, whosefamily will lose their century-old cattle ranch if the project designed to protect Calgary and other communities from future floodsgoes ahead.

Landowners

He's part of a group called Don't Damn Springbank, which has been vocal in its opposition to the project.

"If there's a better choice than to destroy one community to try and save another, we think that this process will help push thatforward," he said.

"There is an alternative in McLeanCreek, which is entirely on provincial land, that we hope that this process will help the government reconsider that option."

The McLean Creek dam was rejected by the Alberta government based on its environmental impact, cost and extended timelines.

The Springbank project will affect dozens of landowners in the area, gobbling up3,610 acres of land so thatwatercan be redirected into the dam in the case of a flood.

Tsuut'ina

The Tsuut'inaFirstNation says itwasn't consulted by the province even though the project is less than three football fields from its reserve.

Spokesperson Kevin Littlelight said the nation is also pleased with the federal review.

"It's a good starting point to be fair to all sides, you know. And if it's the federal government, that means it's supposed to be neutral and we can measure our reports against it. At least they're studying, whereas it's not just bulldozers moving in," he said.

It's concerned the project will impacttraditional activities such as hunting and fishing in the area and could cause more flooding issues on the reserve.

Brian Mason, Alberta's minister of transportation and infrastructure, has been adamant that the project will move forward.

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