Richmond will receive $300,000 from the B.C. government to fund two flood mitigation projects.
The city is getting $150,000 to monitor the performance of its flood-protection infrastructure by installing river-level, box culvert-level and canal-level sensors.
It will also receive $150,000 to develop a seepage assessment and management plan to address water seepage from the city's 49 kilometres of dykes and safeguard the community from flooding.
The plan will tackle sea-level rise-induced seepage and changes to the groundwater table as sea levels continue to rise due to climate change.
“British Columbians are concerned about the increasing effects of climate change and the emergencies we’re already experiencing — like drought, flooding, extreme heat and wildfires,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.
“By funding local, on-the-ground projects, our government is helping First Nations and local governments protect their communities and keep people safer from future emergencies.”
The province is providing a total of $5 million to several communities through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund’s (CEPF) Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Adaptation stream. The funding will also go toward supporting B.C.’s Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy.
B.C. has invested $369 million in total in the CEPF since it was established in 2017. First Nations and local governments have received more than $165 million through the CEPF to fund around 1,600 climate-emergency projects.
Intake for the CEPF’s current Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Adaptation stream is open until March 28, 2024.
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