Harrison Hot Springs is receiving a significant investment from the provincial government for Harrison Lake's waterfront flood protection upgrades.
On Wednesday, Sept. 18, the province announced 65 communities across B.C. will receive approximately $56 million for 78 projects from the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) through the Disaster Risk Reduction - Climate Adaptation stream.
Harrison is set to receive $5 million toward upgrading the dike along Harrison Lake.
"As climate change increases risks for our communities, we have continued to increase support to help make sure people are protected and prepared for events like floods, landslides, and evacuations," said Chilliwack-Kent MLA Kelli Paddon in a statement. "Five million for Harrison Lake flood prevention and dike repairs is great news for a community that has been so resilient over the years."
The original dike was built in response to the disastrous flood of 1948, which saw widespread flooding of the Fraser River from Richmond to Agassiz. The dike does not currently meet modern standards and the village has been working toward increasing flood protection in the event of rising water levels.
The most recent flood event came from the 2021 atmospheric river floods, in which torrential rain and subsequent landslides wreaked havoc throughout Agassiz-Harrison. There was significant damage to Rockwell Drive along Harrison Lake, which had just been rebuilt after landslides and floods destroyed portions of the road in early 2020.
Last June, the village council voted 4-1 (then-mayor Ed Wood opposed) to use up to $550,000 in Canada Community-Building Fund money to be used to design a protective dike along a part of Harrison Lake. The dike in question would protect the Waste Water Treatment plant and the corresponding access road. Six months later, the village announced a survey for residents provided by the consultants on the dike project – Northwest Hydraulic Consultants – to gather input on design options and proposed plans for the upgrade.
Additional investments in the area include $150,000 for Seabird Island for community adaptive heat mapping, $150,000 for preliminary designs for a creek drainage pump station, and nearly $150,000 for the Sema:th First Nation for flood risk assessment.
The provincial government has invested $369 million into CEPF since its inception in 2017.
