Authorities say British Columbia害羞草研究所檚 main food producing region is better protected from the effects of flooding.

Agriculture Minister Pam Alexis said Tuesday (June 20) that a $20 million program will help both individual farmers and larger communities in the Fraser Valley become more resilient to flooding.

The Fraser Valley Flood Mitigation Project commits $15 million toward communities and First Nations and $5 million toward individual projects.

害羞草研究所淭hese projects will reduce the risk of flooding for the broader community,害羞草研究所� Alexis said. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檒l be able to better protect the livelihoods of our food producers while strengthening our food security and (our) economy,害羞草研究所� she added.

Periods of heavy rain 害羞草研究所� so-called atmospheric rivers 害羞草研究所� caused widespread flooding throughout the Fraser Valley in the fall of 2021, causing what authorities describe as the biggest agricultural disaster in B.C.害羞草研究所檚 history in the most fertile region of the province.

According to government figures, the flooding affected more than 1,100 farms growing various fruits and vegetables; 15,000 hectares of arable land and 2.5 million pieces livestock of every almost every kind and size. The flooding killed thousands of animals while damaging crops, countless buildings and pieces of equipment. It also damaged Highway 1, a vital shipping route for agricultural producers and distributors.

Official estimates released some three months after the event pegged the total damage at $285 million. Figures released in the fall of 2022 pegged the overall insured losses stemming from the atmospheric rivers at $675 million.

Abbotsford Mayor Ross Siemens welcomed the funding, but also acknowledged room for improvement. 害羞草研究所淭here is still a lot of important work that needs to be done to ensure that our farmers, growers and producers are protected against future floods and disasters and that our provincial food security stays strong and secure,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淎s a society, we can deal with a lot of things, but we can害羞草研究所檛 do without food,害羞草研究所� he added.

Tuesday害羞草研究所檚 announcement marked a partial re-announcement of a larger package of more than $200 million toward food security at large first announced in March 2023 as the Fraser Valley Flood Mitigation Project was part of that larger announcement.

It follows $62 million from the province for Abbotsford害羞草研究所檚 new water system with a total price tag of almost $85 million and continuous, albeit slow-moving discussions between officials from both sides of border between B.C. and Washington State involving multiple levels of government concerning the future of the Nooksack River.

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Long flood-prone, its banks had breached in the fall of 2021 to cause the flooding in Abbotsford害羞草研究所檚 Sumas Prairie region. But American officials have been hesitant on efforts to improve flood controls because of the potential impact of such efforts on downstream communities on their side of the border.

Siemens said the community finds itself in 害羞草研究所渁 much better place害羞草研究所� than it was at the time of the 2021 floods. He pointed to upcoming meetings, where the public will have a chance to learn more about Abbotsford害羞草研究所檚 flood mitigation plan for the long-term. He also pointed to recent cross-border consultations. But he also noted Abbotsford needs help while warning of future costs ahead.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 only in working cooperation with First Nations and the province that we are going to accomplish these things,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 going to be expensive and that is why we are having open houses that will outline a little bit more of what some of our plans are and some of the things we are working on.害羞草研究所�

When asked about available support for farmers outside the Fraser Valley also impacted by flooding in 2021 like the Nicola Valley, Alexis pointed to a number of programs available under a cost-share agreement with the federal government, the so-called Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

害羞草研究所淪o there a number of options to help farmers, who have been impacted,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭his fund today is specifically for the Fraser Valley, which really had the brunt of the experience with the atmospheric (rivers) of 2021.害羞草研究所�

wolfgang.depner@blackpress.ca
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