May 18, 2007
Steveston, B.C. – In response to record high snow packs on
the B.C. Coast and Interior mountains, and a significant potential for abnormally
high flood levels, Randy Kamp, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries
and Oceans, today announced $549,000 in federal funding to help reduce the impact
of potential flood waters at Small Craft Harbours (SCH) facilities on the Fraser
River.
"Canada’s New Government is investing $549,000 to protect the
small craft harbour infrastructure of the Lower Mainland communities against flood
related damage," said Kamp. "Work has already begun to help reduce the potential
impact of debris-filled flood waters that could significantly damage harbour infrastructure
which is important to the large number of commercial fishers in the area."
Upstream from the Steveston harbour, DFO Small Craft Harbours
has been working with the Steveston Harbour Authority and the City of Richmond to
make emergency repairs to the Fraser River shear boom. These repairs will help deflect
debris away from the Steveston Channel and reduce the impacts of large amounts of
freshet debris on the Channel, harbour facilities and user vessels. The work is
intended as an interim measure for the structure. Multi-stakeholder, long term planning
is required for the future of the shear boom and flood protection of Steveston channel.
DFO Small Craft Harbours will also implement an emergency freshet
plan involving six of the SCH Harbour authorities in the Lower Mainland. As part
of this plan, the False Creek and Steveston SCH facilities have been designated
as two ports to receive vessels from Lower Mainland harbours that may be impacted
by flood waters.
In addition, a channel dredging project at Steveston Harbour
and maintenance dredging at several SCH Fraser River sites will be completed later
this year to remove the significant harbour infill expected from the anticipated
record Fraser River run-off.
These projects will be carried out under Fisheries and Oceans
Canada’s SCH program in collaboration with Harbour Authorities that manage and operate
facilities for the benefit of local users.
Canada's New Government has made substantial investments this
year to help reduce the risk of flooding on the Fraser River. Today's announcement
is additional funding, over and above the $16.5 million announced by Prime Minister
Harper and the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and
Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Dan Bate
Communications Advisor
Fisheries and Oceans Canada,
Pacific Region
604-775-8809
