The Water Security Agency (WSA) is updating its flood damage relief program to a more proactive approach, and communities can now apply for coverage under the program.
The new program is called the Flood Damage Reduction Program (FDRP) and replaces the Emergency Flood Damage Reduction Program (EFDRP). Under this updated program, cities, towns, villages, and hamlets that face the risk of recurrent flood damage in the province can receive support before major flooding occurs.
Under the WSA definition, a risk of recurrent flood damage entails an area with a proven history of flood hazards, demonstrated vulnerabilities to flooding, and a continued likelihood of future flooding.
The previous Emergency Flood Damage Reduction Program (EFDRP) was launched in April of this year but focused on Saskatchewan communities facing damages from an imminent risk of flooding. To qualify, a hydrological event had to be taking place or an open body of water needed to reach a dangerous elevation prior to eligibility for assistance.
The WSA has now transitioned to a more proactive approach that focuses on prevention. Part of this is a response to studies suggesting that every dollar spent on flood damage prevention saves approximately 20 to 30 times that amount in potential damages.
Funding for the new program is borrowed from an overall $500,000 investment that was formerly utilized in the EFDRP program. Any funds that haven’t been used in the EFDRP program will now be directed to the new FDRP program. The WSA receives funding from the provincial government, which has invested nearly $85 million in similar public works since 2011.
Eligible projects will be financed through a cost-sharing measure that sees half the expense covered by the provincial government and half by the municipality, with a ceiling of $100,000 per project.
Municipalities can submit a proposal to undertake activities, and the WSA organizes these requests into four categories: risk assessment, flood mapping, mitigation planning, and structural projects. Structural projects need to be built as permanent flood protection works to qualify.
To apply for assistance through the program, you can download the form on the WSA website and submit your completed form via email. Applications are considered on a first come, first served basis, and will be addressed until the budget is fully allocated.
Once your application is approved, a technical investigation is undertaken and a report is prepared. The municipality will then work together with the WSA to enact the recommended measures and payment will be made after the supporting documents are submitted and a final inspection is completed.
Eligible costs include the purchase of materials and supplies, certain wages and contractor fees, road haul levies, equipment rental, and applicable taxes. Clients who use their own equipment may be reimbursed at the standard industry rate. Other costs such as temporary measures, purchasing land or equipment, or using materials sourced from the client’s property are ineligible.
A full list of eligible costs can be found at wsask.ca.
The deadline for applications is Oct. 1, 2023, and all work on the project must be completed by March 31, 2024, to qualify for financial assistance.
“We hope communities take advantage of this funding to implement effective long-term mitigation strategies and become better prepared for possible floods in the future,” said Jeremy Cockrill, the minister responsible for overseeing the WSA.
The WSA is unique in Canada and unites most government water management responsibilities in one organization. The organization manages the provinces’ water supply and ensures the sustainability and quality of Saskatchewan’s water resources from the source to your tap. The program also ensures any risk of water borne illnesses due to flooding are safely addressed.
Application forms and additional information can be found at wsask.ca/water-programs/flood-damage-prevention/.
For more information specific to the program, contact Sean Osmar at 306-630-4643 or by email at [email protected].
The Water Security Agency is located at 111 Fairford Street East in Moose Jaw and can be reached at 306-694-3900.
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