Protecting Edmonton's Water Treatment Plants from flooding

As part of developing the Vegetation Management Plan, EPCOR asked interested Indigenous Nations to form a Traditional Ecological Knowledge working group to provide meaningful input to vegetation management at the two Water Treatment Plant sites.

In the first half of 2023, EPCOR held several meetings to walk the sites, discuss shared values and naturalization strategies, and gather feedback to ensure these lands were cared for. We are now incorporating this advice into our vegetation management plan, which will target a return to a natural Prairie Parkland ecoregion as appropriate. There is also a strong desire for harvestable berries and ceremonial sites for Indigenous teachings.

All together, we reached out to more than 30 Nations to engage on vegetation and construction, and have held four pipe ceremonies at the Rossdale Water Treatment Plant so far to help ensure we are moving forward in a good way.

Supporting urban Indigenous ceremony

We will provide some of the removed trees as part of this project to kihcihkaw askî for ceremonial and traditional uses. kihcihkaw askî provides a natural setting in Edmonton for Indigenous Peoples, groups, and communities to host ceremonies, sweat lodges and facilitate intergenerational learning.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

As a precursor to the Edmonton Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Flood Mitigation Project, EPCOR invited community members, Indigenous communities and First Nations, special interest groups, residents, recreational user groups, community league representatives and individuals who have interest in the WTPs to help es​tablish five shared outcome statements. These shared outcomes will guide our work at the Rossdale and E.L. Smith Water Treatment Plants moving forward.

Following this shared outcome work, we conducted two phases of the community engagement process​ to the REFINE level in our public engagement framework, by seeking community members’ input to help us improve the quality of the project design.

• We first sought to understand how community members use the spaces around the water treatment plants, and what they value most in terms of design. 
• We talked with local community members, rights-holders and Indigenous Nations and communities, sharing information about permanent flood barriers planned for installation around the water treatment plants.
• We collected feedback about how the barriers will be experienced by those who live, work and recreate in the areas around the facility. 
• We heard from a number of community members who shared their perspectives on which design considerations are important for EPCOR to consider while building flood barriers. 

We conducted community engagement using a variety of techniques, including online and in-person workshops, one-on-one meetings, and regular project communications. ​

Addressing community concerns

During conversations with the Rossdale community, we heard a number of questions relating to the impact of the project, and EPCOR’s role as a neighbour in the community. To summarize these concerns: 

1. ​​What is EPCOR doing to support flood protection for local communities as a whole, such as through the Stormwater Integrated Resource Plan? 

2. How is EPCOR ensuring that the proposed flood barriers will not adversely affect nearby homes in the event of a major flood? 

3. What are the approval processes for the funding and project overall, and how can community members get involved in those processes?

A key commitment of our plans to protect the Rossdale Water Treatment Plant is that the flood barriers will not worsen flooding in the surrounding neighbourhood or negatively impact nearby homes. EPCOR relies on hydraulic modelling from the provincial government, which is based on work by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The modelling, as confirmed by a third-party consultant, shows that there would be no change in the water level across the flood plain around Rossdale due to the treatment plant flood barriers.

EPCOR also has programs in place to help mitigate other impacts of both rainfall and river-related flooding. 

• ​Stormwater Integrated Resource Plan, a 20-year, $1.6-billion plan that includes a variety of actions to slow, move, secure, predict and respond to flooding in Edmonton neighbourhoods.
• Homeowner Flood Prevention Program, which includes free home inspections and a backwater valve subsidy is also available to eligible properties.

EPCOR plans to review the project plan with City Council in late 2022/early 2023. 

Flood barrier design

A combination of grass-covered embankments and flood walls will be built around the Rossdale Water Treatment Plant to meet technical requirements, reduce the impacts to vegetation and minimize the cost to rate payers. 

At two locations facing east, we asked participants what kind of flood barrier they preferred. The three primary options explored were a grass-covered embankment, a flood wall, or a combination of the two. Responses were nearly evenly distributed between these options. 

However, the community input did provide insights into how they want the barriers to look and feel. These design considerations, which we will take forward to detailed design, include: 

• Create space for recreation and transportation
• Blend into existing surroundings
• Consider how to discourage vandalism
• Improve “institutional” look/feel of the WTP
• Celebrate the history of the area
• Add amenities that support recreation and community gathering
• Align with City, EPCOR, and Community priorities

A combination of grass-covered embankments and flood walls will be built around E.L. Smith to meet technical requirements, reduce the impacts to vegetation and minimize the cost to rate payers. There was a clear preference for maintaining the natural state of the area as much as possible, and participants also noted opportunities for sharing education and history with visitors. 

The following are key insights from community members’ feedback: 

• Prioritize maintaining and enhancing existing environment
• Support existing recreational use through minimal amenities
• Include educational features that include Indigenous representation
• Align with City, EPCOR, and Community priorities

We recognize the archaeological and historical significance of the sites of the plants; the importance of these areas in fostering communities predates the City of Edmonton itself. It was important to EPCOR that we seek out, hear, and include the perspectives of the 32 Indigenous Nations and communities with an interest in these lands and will continue these conversations throughout this project.

Feedback and responses were gathered from Indigenous Nation and community representatives during in-person walking tours, virtual information sharing and guidance-seeking workshops, monitoring activities and one-on-one conversations.

Did you know? 

EPCOR is aligning with the principles of OCAP® (Ownership, Control, Access, Possession) for this work, and continues to work with participating Knowledge Keepers and Indigenous Nations and communities to ensure protocols are in place for appropriate management of the Indigenous knowledge that is shared.​

The following themes emerged through Indigenous engagement: 

• ​The importance of Water
• Consideration for the Environment, tree removal, replanting
• Allow for interaction with the land, maintain harvesting opportunities
• The many histories and stories of the areas 
• The importance of Treaty
  

As we move forward, we will continue to work with Nations to address these key themes. EPCOR will prioritize reconciliation: working collaboratively with Indigenous Peoples to reconnect with their historic lands, by creating opportunities for monitoring archeological work, shared learning, conducting ceremony, and traditional plant harvesting. 

In terms of specific feedback on the barriers, following is a summary of what we heard: 

• Diverse perspectives on walls, berms and wall/berm combination
• Stone was the preferred treatment, as brick can be a reminder of residential schools
• Storytelling plaques and artwork to adorn or be displayed along walls
• Amenities including plaques and benches that speak to Treaty and Stories
• Recognition of the use of the land by many diverse peoples throughout history
• Emphasis on the importance of Ceremony before and throughout the project
• Continuous Indigenous Monitoring of ground disturbances
• Employment opportunities for Indigenous people