Springbank reservoir now operational as Alberta’s flood season arrives

A critical piece of Calgary's flood protection strategy is now operational in time for the 2025 flood season.

After years of planning and construction, a major flood mitigation project outside Calgary is now complete.

The province said the Springbank off-stream reservoir (SR1) is now operational, three years after shovels first broke ground.

The $849-million project was sparked by the 2013 floods, which killed one person and caused billions in damages.

“With flood season now upon us, Calgary and southern Alberta can rest assured that they will be protected from future large-scale floods like that of 2013,” said Devin Dreeshen, minister of transportation and economic corridors, in a news release.

“SR1’s innovative design will ensure people, communities and businesses are buffered from the most devastating physical and economic impacts of major floods.”

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The dry reservoir is about 15 kilometres west of Calgary in Rocky View County.

SR1 consists of a 24-metre wide, 4.7-kilometre long diversion canal that can carry flood water to the 29-metre tall, 3.8-kilometre long storage dam.

It will divert and store flood waters from the Elbow River when needed and release them when it’s safe.

The reservoir’s storage capacity is 70.2 million cubic metres, which is enough water to fill about 28,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

The province will foot most of the project’s cost, with Ottawa providing $168.5 million for the project.

“Calgarians remember all too well the devastation of the 2013 floods. Today marks a turning point,” said Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek in the release.

The City of Calgary says flood season, the two months when flooding is most likely, started last week.

In the last flood update from the city, the chances of flooding this year are considered “normal,” with the city adding Calgarians are better protected from flooding than ever before.