BC Floodplain Mapping Projects

The Province of BC is supporting the development of high-quality floodplain maps for BC communities that are exposed to riverine, lakeshore and/or coastal flood hazards.

The Fraser Basin Council is managing and coordinating a new floodplain mapping initiative on behalf of the Province of BC, with guidance from a Technical Committee and direction from a Steering Committees. The technical work is being undertaken by consulting professionals, in collaboration with communities.

Mapping is Underway

Communities in six regions of BC where there is a high risk of flood (but a lack of updated flood maps) are participating in a floodplain mapping initiative that began in 2022.

With the agreement and collaboration of participating communities, several regions are being mapped over two years (2022-2024) of this multi-year, co-funded (federal-provincial) program. These are:

• Lower Fraser and Coquihalla Rivers
• Nicola and Coldwater Rivers
• Upper Fraser and Nechako Rivers
• Bulkley and Skeena Rivers
• Shuswap Lake Region
• Upper Columbia River

The initiative will generate floodplain maps that are of high quality and of a standard appropriate to support Indigenous governments and local governments in their regulatory and decision-making responsibilities.

The new maps will identify and describe flood hazard areas and help assess potential impacts to people, critical infrastructure and other assets and values. Communities can use them to:

• support land use planning policies (e.g., floodplain bylaws and flood construction levels) and development decisions
• prepare and update emergency response plans, and
• plan disaster mitigation and climate adaptation measures

The maps will also be accessible to the public through a web portal. The hydraulic models will be available for future map updates or for additional flood assessments.

Scoping Studies

Scoping studies have also been initiated for the Lower Mainland, Coastal BC, Northern BC and Southern BC to identify additional needs for floodplain mapping. The scoping studies will help everyone:

• better understand community flood mapping interests and needs
• identify available data, models and data gaps
• identify additional needs for floodplain mapping

Learn More

This work is being funded by the Province of BC and the Government of Canada through the Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program.

For more information, contact:

Steve Litke, Director, Water Programs
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