floods.alberta.ca

By rdnewsNOW staff

Red Deer County, Markerville, Stettler

Central Alberta communities among those with new provincial flood mapping

Nov 26, 2025 | 1:32 PM

Red Deer County is among several Alberta municipalities that have recently seen the province complete flood mapping in its jurisdiction.

According to the province, nearly 300 kilometres of flood mapping covering Red Deer County, Markerville, Stettler, Vegreville, Pine Creek and Hinton have now been completed.

The government says more flood maps have been completed in the past five years than during the previous 35 years combined. Since 2020, the province says more than 1,850 kilometres of flood maps have been completed.

Officials say all rivers, streams and lakes in Alberta have the potential to flood, so knowing where the water will flow during a flood helps Albertans understand where it is safe to farm and build, and how to prepare for emergency situations.

Since 2020, the province says new or updated flood mapping has been completed for 70 municipalities and five First Nations. The government says it is well on track to reach its goal of completing more than 3,000 kilometres of new and updated flood mapping by 2028.

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“We’ve seen firsthand that floods can destroy homes, damage businesses and devastate communities, which is why we’re completing flood maps at a record pace to help communities plan better and keep Albertans safe,” says Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, in a press release.

“Alberta Municipalities has long advocated for expanded flood mapping across Alberta to ensure municipalities have access to accurate, up-to-date data,” adds Dana Mackie, chief executive officer, Alberta Municipalities. “Reliable flood information not only strengthens community safety and resilience but also supports fairer insurance rates for our municipalities. We are pleased with today’s announcement.”

“Rural municipalities require accurate flood risk data to ensure that local land use planning balances economic growth, community safety and environmental conservation,” shares Kara Westerlund, president, Rural Municipalities of Alberta. “The Government of Alberta’s continued progress on flood maps and studies is an important step towards ensuring rural development proceeds safely and responsibly.”

Provincial officials point out that flood maps help keep people safe and play a critical role in informing local emergency response plans and guiding future Indigenous community and municipal development decisions. It’s noted, these maps identify where water will flow during a flood and what land could be flooded during different sized floods.

Alberta government quick facts

• The five new flood studies cover the following areas:
• 27 kilometres of the Athabasca River and 29 kilometres of surrounding creeks in Hinton and Yellowhead County.
• 46 kilometres of the Red Deer, 32 kilometres of the Little Red Deer River and 33 kilometres of the Medicine River in Red Deer County and Markerville.
• 30 kilometres of Redwillow Creek and four kilometres of the unnamed tributary in Stettler and Stettler County.
• 19 kilometres of the Vermilion River and 24 kilometres of unnamed tributaries in Vegreville and Minburn County
• 26 kilometres of Pine Creek and six kilometres of Radio Tower Creek in Calgary and Foothills County.
• With the exception of Pine Creek, which did not previously have flood mapping, the new flood mapping replaces and expands on previous provincial flood maps done between 1994 and 2007.
• The five finalized flood studies were completed under the provincial Flood Hazard Identification Program, with four studies 50/50 cost-shared with Natural Resources Canada.
• Nearly 600 kilometres of draft flood mapping for the communities of Carbon, Chateh, Crowsnest Pass, Edson, Garden River, Grande Prairie, Kinuso, Lacombe, Lamont, Lethbridge, Manning, Millet, Paddle Prairie, Peers, Ponoka, Robb, Rycroft, Thorsby, Two Hills, and Watino are expected to be completed over the next two years.
• More than 80 per cent of municipalities covered by provincial flood mapping reference them in local land use bylaws.
• Flood maps for any community in the province can be viewed easily online.