Coastal Flood Inundation
On behalf of local governments and other regional partners, the Capital Regional District (CRD) worked closely with an inter-municipal and multi-disciplinary project team to complete the Regional Coastal Flood Inundation Mapping Project in order to better understand regional impacts from coastal storm flooding due to sea level rise and tsunamis. The project was completed with support from the federal and provincial National Disaster Mitigation Program.
The Capital Region Coastal Flood Inundation Mapping Project (PDF) provides a comprehensive picture of coastal flooding due to rising sea levels and tsunamis. The project provides enhanced coastal flood hazard information to:
- Help planners and emergency managers prepare the region for coastal storm and tsunami events that may impact southern Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands.
- Offer guidance to regional stakeholders to inform coastal flood policy, planning and communication efforts.
- Better understand the infrastructure, ecosystems and cultural sites that may be at risk due to future sea level rise.
- Identify risks to residents and infrastructure (e.g., harbours, marinas, docks) within the capital region as a result of tsunami waves and currents.
Note: Updated versions of the summary, Task 2 and Task 3 of the Capital Regional Coastal Flood Inundation Mapping Project published in November 2021 replace the previous 1.0 reports, published in June 2020.
Previous Work on Coastal Flood Mapping
The CRD previously completed regional studies related to both sea level rise and tsunamis, including:
- The Coastal Sea Level Rise Risk Assessment Report (2015) (PDF) used a simplified “combined” methodology. Analyses included mapping 24 focus areas across the capital region vulnerable to sea level rise and an economic risk assessment and analysis of economic impacts associated with service disruptions.
- For associated maps, see Map Book 1 (PDF) and Map Book 2 (PDF).
- Important: These maps have been prepared for
information purposes. For more context about the maps and analysis, including a
description of the data and methods used, please see the full report.
- The Sea Level Rise Planning Approaches Project Report (2015) (PDF) is a tool kit of prioritized planning, regulatory and site-specified adaptation tools specific to the Capital Regional District and its local governments.
- The Capital Regional District Modelling of Potential Tsunami Inundation Limits and Run-Up (2013) study modelled tsunami impacts along the entire regional coastline from a Cascadian subduction zone 1-in-500 year earthquake.
Authority
Under BC’s Local Government Act and the Emergency Program Act, local governments are responsible for understanding and managing flood risk through land use planning and regulations and through emergency planning and preparedness activities. First Nations determine their own policy and regulations in their communities according to their own Emergency Management and flood-control plans.
Local governments, First Nations and other regional emergency management coordination bodies will be provided this data for their review and consideration. The CRD will continue to support existing inter-municipal and inter-agency committees and support opportunities for further collaboration.
Be Prepared
If you live, work or play in a coastal area of the capital region, you and your family need to be aware of your risks, know what to do in the event of a coastal storm or tsunami, and be prepared to respond. Learn more at prepareyourself.ca.