The RM of Corman Park is undertaking a study to determine whether a system of engineered levees could mitigate the risk of flood damage in the South Saskatchewan River valley floodway and flood fringe south of Saskatoon.
A motion to approve the awarding of the $20,000 contract to Barr Engineering to conduct the feasibility study was passed at the RM of Corman Park video-conference council meeting on Monday, July 13. The same engineering firm had previously conducted the first phase of a multi-year mapping and hydraulic modelling study for the floodplain area.
The RM now has concrete data detailing the volume, depth and velocity of peak flows within the floodway channel and the flood fringe.
The overall floodway and flood plain mapping study area includes the river valley floodplain stretching from Saskatoon’s southern city limits to the northern boundary of the RM of Dundurn.
The levee system feasibility study, set to begin in early August, will evaluate three dyke options, including Valley Road. The goal is to determine whether any of these proposed options are able to reduce the floodway in a way that may permit some controlled development.
The feasibility study will compare each of the three levee proposals to existing conditions to assess potential impacts on the flood profile and velocities in the area. The study will also provide cost estimates for each of the three dyke options.
The RM has not committed to proceeding with any of the proposed dyke options. The feasibility study is simply aimed at providing data.
The provincial Water Security Agency (WSA) has indicated it is not in favour of levees or dykes within the flood plain.