Important Drawings, Reports, & Studies
- Cost of Adaptation – Sea Dikes and Alternative Strategies
- APEGBC Professional Practice Guidelines – Legislated Flood Assessments in a Changing Climate in BC
- Climate Change Adaptation Guidelines for Sea Dikes & Coastal Flood Hazard Land Use
- Coastal Floodplain Mapping Guidelines and Coastal Flood Hazard Areas
- Sea Level Rise Adaptation Primer
- Seismic Design Guidelines for Dikes
- Dike Design and Management Publications
- Fraser River Hydraulic Modeling Reports
The link below provides a table of as-built drawings and related documents for dikes operated and maintained in the Lower Mainland.
Table of drawings and documents listed by Diking Authority
These drawings and documents were produced from the following programs:
- Fraser River Flood Control Program (1968-1995)
- Flood Protection Assistance Program (1999-2005)
- Urgent Mitigative Flood Works (2007)
- Flood Protection Fund (ongoing since 2007)
1. Cost of Adaptation - Sea Dike and Alternative Strategies - Final Report
Cost of Adaptation ( 9mb)
This report provides a “Class D” estimate of the cost to construct flood protection to meet the rise in sea level predicted by 2100. The study area covers Metro Vancouver coastal shorelines and Fraser River shorelines west of the Port Mann Bridge. The cost estimate helps to define the scale of the work ahead and is a first step in developing a regional flood protection adaptation strategy.
2. APEGBC Professional Practice Guidelines – Legislated Flood Assessments in
a Changing Climate in BC
APEGBC Flood Assessment Guidelines in a Changing Climate
The purpose of this document is to guide professional practice for flood assessments, to identify the circumstances when risk assessments are appropriate and to emphasize the need to consider climate change and land use changes in such assessments.
3. Climate Change Adaptation Guidelines for Sea Dikes & Coastal Flood Hazard
a. Draft Policy Discussion Paper ( 1.0mb)
b. Sea Dike Guidelines ( 4.4mb)
c. Guidelines for Management of Coastal Flood Hazard Land Use ( 1.0mb)
These reports are intended to inform and encourage engineers, planners and others to address sea level rise. This work was undertaken as part of the B.C. Regional Adaptation Collaborative, funded in part by the Province and Natural Resources Canada.
The content of these reports are for information and do not represent official provincial policy. In consideration of the reports, the Province is drafting a policy that will update relevant sections of existing ministry guidelines. Further stakeholder and public engagement will be a part of this process.
Comments on these reports are welcome; please direct these via e-mail to Jesal.Shah@gov.bc.ca.
4. Coastal Floodplain Mapping Guidelines and Coastal Flood Hazard Areas
a. Coastal Floodplain Mapping Guidelines and Specifications
final report June 2011 ( 9mb)
The purpose of coastal floodplain maps is to identify the coastal
flood hazard(s) and to provide the technical basis for land use planning and developing floodplain bylaws. Floodplain mapping is an important first step in developing a flood hazard management plan, as floodplain maps identify the
flood hazard(s) and provide information on the spatial distribution of Flood Construction Levels (FCLs).
This report provides a methodology to develop floodplain maps for coastal communities for coastal flood hazards, including sea level rise. The report also includes a sample coastal floodplain map prepared for the City of Campbell River, as well as an associated design brief.
Also, as a part of this project, a web-based coastal flood hazard screening tool has been developed for coastal areas in British Columbia.
b. PDF Maps of Coastal Flood Hazard Areas in B.C.
This web page has been prepared by: Kerr Wood Leidal Consulting Engineers
The website displays the potential year 2100 floodplain areas based on approximate Flood Construction Levels (incorporating sea level rise).
Note that floodplain areas have not been ground proofed, verified, or studied to confirm their exact location.
5. The Sea Level Rise Adaptation Primer
Sea level rise adaptation primer is a resource for local governments and land management authorities, providing information on a range of tools that can be used as part of a sea level rise adaptation strategy.
Sea Level Rise Adaptation Primer ( 6.mb)
6. Seismic Design Guidelines
Seismic Design Guidelines for Dikes ( 5.5mb)
This document describes factors that need to be considered in the seismic design of High Consequence dikes located in Southwestern British Columbia.
This document provides guidance on:
- seismic ground motions to be considered for the analysis and design of dikes along with corresponding performance expectations;
- suitable geotechnical investigation methods to characterize and obtain engineering properties of the site soils;
- commonly used methods for seismic analysis considered appropriate for dikes;
- threshold seismic events that should trigger a post-event evaluation of the integrity of the dike system;
- seismic rehabilitation and strengthening measures; and,
- post-earthquake temporary emergency repair and permanent remediation measures.
7. Dike Design and Management Publications
The following documents provide guidance on how to manage and inspect flood protection systems (i.e. dikes) within the province.
a. Guidelines for Management of Flood Protection Works in British Columbia
March 1999 ( 3.2MB)
This document consolidates and summarizes current practices with respect to the management of flood protection works in British Columbia. The purpose is to help Diking Authorities and flood protection professionals fulfill dike safety requirements, as legislated under the Dike Maintenance Act.
b. Flood Protection Works Inspection Guide March 2000 ( 3.1MB)
This guide focuses on field identification of conditions that might jeopardize the safety of the dike. It also provides information on scheduling inspections, inspection methods and tips, record-keeping methods that assist with ongoing monitoring of changing conditions, and maintenance scheduling and tracking.
c. Dike Design and Construction Guide: Best Management Practices for British Columbia July 2003 ( 5.4MB) Amended 2011: Sections 2.9 and 2.11 – Guide incorporates changes regarding seismic design, pipe crossings, and seepage collars.
This document has been developed to present basic principles used in the design and construction of dikes. The guidelines discuss sound engineering practices related to dike design and construction and help address the issues or problems that a design professional may typically encounter.
d. Riprap Design and Construction Guide March 2000 ( 10.0MB)
This guide discusses the design and construction of protective works to prevent erosion of river banks and dike slopes from stream floe.
e. Environmental Guidelines for Vegetation Management on Flood Protection Works to Protect Public Safety and the Environment
March 1999 ( 2.6MB)
These guidelines have been developed by the Flood Hazard Management Section of the British Columbia Ministry of Environment (MoE) in consultation with MoE’s Biodiversity Branch and Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). The guidelines present minimum standards under the Dike Maintenance Act for managing vegetation on flood control structures in a manner that protects public safety, and identifies opportunities to protect and/or enhance habitat for the benefit of the environment.
for a set-back dike
8. Fraser River Hydraulic Modeling Reports
a. December 2006 (Superseded by March 2008 report)
i. 2006 Fraser River Profile Report( 10.6MB)
Tables ( 500KB)
iii. Figures ( 5.5MB)
iv. Drawings ( 1.5mb)
v. Map ( 4.5mb)
Note: This report contains pertinent information not included in the March 2008 report.
b. Fraser River Hydraulic Model Update Report, March 2008
i. Fraser River Profile Report (no maps)( 2.7mb)
ii. Map 1: Gauge Locations (300 dpi) ( 12.5mb)
iii. Map 2: Hydraulic Model DS (150 dpi) ( 7.8mb)
iv. Map 3: Hydraulic Model Map US (150 dpi) ( 4.8mb)
v. Map 4: WS Dike Map DS (300 dpi) ( 3.1mb)
vi. Map 5: WSD Dike Map US (300 dpi) ( 1.8mb)
In 2007 the Ministry of Environment contracted with Northwest Hydraulic Consultants (nhc) to forecast water levels during the spring freshet using the Fraser River Hydraulic Model developed in 2006. During this work, it became apparent that the model needed to be updated and re-calibrated. This report summarizes the findings and updates the flood profile.
c. Review of Fraser River Flood Flows at Hope October 2008( 1.2mb)
Since the 1950s, the design of flood protection for the Lower Fraser Valley has been based on the large floods of 1894 and 1948. Under contract to the Ministry of Environment, Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Ltd. reviewed the magnitude of these two floods at the Hope gauging station and established an updated flood frequency analysis. The report confirms the flows used in recent hydraulic modeling, provides flood probability information for quantitative risk analyses, and recommends additional work to improve understanding of Fraser River flood hydrology.