Flood Info

Get Prepared

• Avoid riverbanks and low-lying areas where the river can submerge the pathways. 
• Keep children and pets away as fast moving water can erode riverbanks quickly.
• If you live in a low-lying area that’s at risk of flooding, take steps to be flood ready. Move valuables and documents out of your basement.
• If you have a sump pump or backflow valve, ensure it’s working.
• Check your swale for debris or blockages. 
• Clean out downspouts and ensure they are pointed away from your foundation.
• Rainfall can lead to pooling water on local streets. When a significant amount of rainwater accumulates on a street, it is likely located near a trap low – a device that controls water drainage from Town streets. The water may accumulate up to a homeowners’ driveway and a portion of their lawn, however, it should completely drain within 24 hours once the rain stops. 

Be Flood Ready

The Government of Canada has some great information to help you be flood ready.

View the Alberta Environment & Parks flood alerting, advisory, reporting and water management map.

Concerns with localized flooding or trap lows can be directed to operations@cochrane.ca or 403.851.2590. Town staff will respond on a priority basis. For new communities still under developers’ control, please contact them directly about any local flooding concerns.

Upper Bow River Hazard Study and Flood Hazard Identification Program

• March 16, 2018: Upper Bow River Hazard Study Update
• March 27, 2017: Upper Bow River Hazard Study update
• March 30, 2016: Update from Government of Alberta on progress which will eventually result in new flood maps. 
• Fall 2015: Survey crews worked along the Bow River in late 2015, collecting ground elevation data and river channel information to support the creation of a hydraulic model, flood inundation mapping and flood hazard mapping. More info.

This is one of six multi-year river hazard studies talking place across the province. More on Alberta's Flood Hazard Identification Program