Canadian province of Alberta asks Delta Commissioner for flood mitigation advice
Robin Campbell, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD) of the Canadian province of Alberta is making a three-day working visit to the Netherlands, accompanied by a delegation. Alberta wants to implement concrete measures to combat the problem of flooding. In June 2013, Alberta was hit by heavy storms resulting in catastrophic flooding. Rivers burst their banks near the city of Calgary and 75,000 people had to be evacuated. The damage amounted to a total of 5 billion Canadian dollars, of which only 1.7 billion was compensated for by insurance policies.
On 23 June, Minister Campbell met with the Delta Commissioner on the margins of the ‘Delta Technology’ knowledge festival in Almere. Mr Campbell is looking for Dutch knowledge and advice to help prevent such floods in the future. The preventive approach of the Dutch Delta Programme with a long-term strategy involving concrete implementation programmes in the short and mid-term, could possibly provide solutions.
Wim Kuijken presented the Dutch approach and opened the door to cooperation. Henk Ovink gave a presentation on his experiences in the USA. Other presentations were given by Gerard Doornbos (Chair of the Rijnland District Water Board) and Ralph Schielen (Room for the River programme). During the Minister’s visit, Deltares and ESRD will sign a Declaration of Intent regarding flood mitigation in Alberta.