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Fraser Valley gets $10.5 million in flood protection

The provincial funding will go towards Nicomen Island dikes
55697BCLN2007NicomenIslandDikes

The northern Fraser Valley will be better protected from floods following a $10.5 million boost announced by the province Monday.

The province is allocating $10.5 million to improve the dike system on Nicomen Island, located in the Fraser River north of Abbotsford and west of Chilliwack. The area is home to agricultural lands, a Leq'a:mel First Nation community and the Lougheed Hwy. runs through the small island.

The funding is part of the $80 million set aside by the province for emergency preparedness last week. That money went towards emergency preparedness organizations in B.C. including Canada Task Force One, the Salvation Army of B.C., Avalanche Canada and the B.C. Search and Rescue Association.

READ: Province commits $80 million to emergency preparedness

The Fraser Valley Regional District will use $6.5 million of the funding to widen the 35 kilometre dike system on the island. According to the transportation ministry, the current dikes are too low or too steep.

The remaining $4.5 million is earmarked for upgrading the pump system that supports the dikes.

 

 


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katya.slepian@bpdigital.ca

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