Annex Dike Flood Protection Improvement
The Annex Dike Flood Protection Improvement Project is the City's third major flood mitigation and protection initiative and is valued at $4.975 million (grant funded).
The Annex Dike protects the over 900 residences, 113 commercial properties, 6 industrial properties, and 2,000+ citizens living in the Annex neighbourhood.
Project Goals
The focus of the Annex Dike Flood Protection Improvement project is to:
- Raise the dike along the 1,800 linear meters of the existing dike to identified flood construction levels
- Reconstruct the dike slope and crest
- Improve erosion protection
Background:
In 2019, the City of Fernie commissioned and completed a Flood Mitigation Plan, which identified flood hazards based on existing flood protection infrastructure and new floodplain mapping from the 2017 Elk River and 2014 Coal Creek studies. Many of the existing dikes were determined to be too low, and additional gaps in flood protection were identified throughout the community. The recommended mitigation measures throughout the City were prioritized based on the associated risks using a likelihood and consequence of failure methodology.
Based on this plan, the City has secured $8.234 million in funding to improve flood protection since 2019. So far, we’ve increased our flood protection in two locations, along the Mountview Dike and the Northlands "Maiden Lake" Dike. Our third and current project aims to provide flood protection for Annex residents by upgrading the Annex Dike.
Annex Neighbourhood Active Transportation Network Improvements
Further enhancements to the Annex Dike are also underway, funded through a $500,000 provincial Active Transportation grant that will provide paved trails, with accessible and inclusive features. These enhancements will integrate the Annex Neighbourhood Active Transportation Network, along the newly upgraded dike, with the grant-funded Fernie Valley Pathway Segment 1B.
Project Goals:
- Provide accessible and inclusive features that benefit locals and visitors
- Connect the Annex trail system to the Fernie Valley Pathway and provide improved inclusive accessibility and trail animation/interpretation
To advance these initiatives, the City is working on three separate but connected projects with a combined project value of $7.178 million:
- Annex Dike Flood Protection Improvements – providing 1:500 flood protection for the Annex neighbourhood from the bridge to bridge.
- Annex Neighbourhood Active Transportation Network Improvements – improving mobility and active transportation along the Annex Dike.
- Fernie Valley Pathway Segment1B – enhancing our active transportation network from West Fernie Bridge to Provincial Park Road.
These projects represent a significant investment in meeting the challenges of climate change and climate change mitigation by investing in both flood protection and active transportation, supporting reduced reliance on motorized transportation throughout the community.
Project Status and Next Steps
The project was completed over the summer and fall of 2022. The contractor, Copcan Civil LP, wrapped up work in mid-December and the Annex Park and trail network is now re-open to the public. The contractor will return in spring of 2023 for some minor finishing touches and the City will have an opening ceremony to celebrate the completion of these three important projects.
