The RDEK received a report in late 2020 outlining the debris flow hazard potential on Cold Spring Creek. Given the magnitude of the hazard and the risk to life and property, the report was immediately shared with the community, and our team has been working to find ways to mitigate the hazard as expeditiously as possible. A risk assessment is currently being completed that idenitifies the potential life loss and economic risk posed by the debris flow hazard.

It was anticipated that, given the magnitude of the mitigation works required, that it would take multiple projects requiring multiple grants, to complete, and that significant funds would be required to be raised by the community for matching contributions. In early 2021, a grant program became available that could allow for completion of the second phase of mitigation works in a single project, with possible 100% funding of up to $10 million. Although the timelines required for this program are extremely tight, it was felt that it was worth pursuing, for the benefit of the community.

This grant represents a tremendous opportunity for the community if we are approved, as it would be 100% funded by the Federal and Provincial governments. To put its magnitude into perspective, if approved, it would represent over 20% of all the available funding for the Province in this funding program and would be the largest single grant the RDEK has ever received for a capital project.

We will not know until mid-April whether or not the funding application will be approved; however, recognizing both the significance of this grant opportunity AND the potential risk to the community, our team has been moving as quickly as possible to meet the legislative timelines and has been working with the Ministry on all options to ensure we are positioned to meet the terms of the grant funding should we be successful.

To read the latest project update, including an update on the assent process and bylaw amendments, estimated tax rates, and more, please read the March 12, 2021 Newsletter (available in the Documents section).

We recognize there are still many questions – and we are committed to answering them.

Once we have more details on the approval of the bylaw amendment, have received the risk assessment and hear whether or not we have been successful in the grant, we will be sending out an update and scheduling a community meeting. While we do not yet know the timing of the meeting, it will likely be in May given when we expect to hear on these three items.