The impact of climate change on approximately 200 kilometres of coastline in the Comox Valley Regional District is the focus of a project just given a big financial boost.
The CVRD has announced that it was awarded a $500K grant from the National Disaster Mitigation Program to carry out the work. It applied for the money last year.
The funds will be used to undertake coastal flood and sea-level rise mapping in the region to help better prepare for present and future threats including flooding.
“This grant will enable us to do detailed mapping of our coast in order to better understand the impacts of rising sea level and storm surge associated with climate change,” said Alana Mullaly, Senior Manager of RGS and Sustainability.
“This information will help us to make policy and regulatory changes that will better prepare our community to adapt and take actions that will improve our coastal resilience.”
The CVRD says the mapping exercise will also look at a flood model and map for the Oyster River system.
It stems from the 2018 Oyster River/Saratoga Beach flood risk assessment final report that determined there is a significant flood risk. It recommended flood mapping and risk reduction as priorities.
It’s expected the mapping will begin in the fall and be completed by next spring.
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