Flood Mapping & Management

Consultation has concluded

In B.C., local governments are responsible for land use management, including land use in relation to flooding. To ensure the most up-to-date information is being used in land use decisions, the RDN has completed a series of flood hazard studies for the Englishman River, Little Qualicum River, Nanaimo River and the coastal zone. The studies are part of the RDN’s broader Flood Management Program and build on the regional Flood Risk Assessment completed by the RDN in 2019.

For the three river study areas and the coast, the floodplain maps were based on model results for the 200-year return period flood under future climate change including 1.0 meter of sea level rise. The key outcome of this work are to :

provide information to help communities and individuals better prepare for climate change impacts (erosion, storm surge and over time sea level rise), and
update flood mitigation measures, including applicable plans, policies and bylaws.

How Can I Get Involved & Learn More?

Subscribe by clicking on the Register tab. By registering you will be kept up-to-date with progress on this project through our electronic communication.
Watch a video on the RDN's approach to Flood Management
Visit the Document Library to learn more about related projects and initiatives
Visit What's New to see the project updates
Ask us a question on the Q & A tab and we will share it and the answer
Be Prepared. Sign up for the RDN Emergency Alert System to receive local emergency alerts.
Connect with our Team. See our contact info under Who’s Listening
The RDN looks forward to your participation.

provide information to help communities and individuals better prepare for climate change impacts (erosion, storm surge and over time sea level rise), and
update flood mitigation measures, including applicable plans, policies and bylaws.

How Can I Get Involved & Learn More?

Subscribe by clicking on the Register tab. By registering you will be kept up-to-date with progress on this project through our electronic communication.
Watch a video on the RDN's approach to Flood Management
Visit the Document Library to learn more about related projects and initiatives
Visit What's New to see the project updates
Ask us a question on the Q & A tab and we will share it and the answer
Be Prepared. Sign up for the RDN Emergency Alert System to receive local emergency alerts.
Connect with our Team. See our contact info under Who’s Listening
The RDN looks forward to your participation.

Consultation has concluded

Please submit a question and we will share it and the answer.

Share I have read the flood mapping overview and revised map for the LQR and have a couple of observations. In the report you describe flooding on Surfside Dr and attribute it to high river flows. This is incorrect, as far as I remember. When there has been flooding on Surfside it has almost always been due to a King tide combined with a strong north wind blowing seawater from the ocean and through the properties. (The picture in the report shows this event.) Rain and River level was not a factor. The only time there has been flooding on Surfside due to high river flow was after a water main was installed and the small berm behind Surfside was not adaquately restored following this work. One other occasion was in 1967 when a log jam at the mouth of the LQR backed up water in the entire estuary and flooded across the road at the McFeeley/Kinkade junction. on Facebook Share I have read the flood mapping overview and revised map for the LQR and have a couple of observations. In the report you describe flooding on Surfside Dr and attribute it to high river flows. This is incorrect, as far as I remember. When there has been flooding on Surfside it has almost always been due to a King tide combined with a strong north wind blowing seawater from the ocean and through the properties. (The picture in the report shows this event.) Rain and River level was not a factor. The only time there has been flooding on Surfside due to high river flow was after a water main was installed and the small berm behind Surfside was not adaquately restored following this work. One other occasion was in 1967 when a log jam at the mouth of the LQR backed up water in the entire estuary and flooded across the road at the McFeeley/Kinkade junction. on Twitter Share I have read the flood mapping overview and revised map for the LQR and have a couple of observations. In the report you describe flooding on Surfside Dr and attribute it to high river flows. This is incorrect, as far as I remember. When there has been flooding on Surfside it has almost always been due to a King tide combined with a strong north wind blowing seawater from the ocean and through the properties. (The picture in the report shows this event.) Rain and River level was not a factor. The only time there has been flooding on Surfside due to high river flow was after a water main was installed and the small berm behind Surfside was not adaquately restored following this work. One other occasion was in 1967 when a log jam at the mouth of the LQR backed up water in the entire estuary and flooded across the road at the McFeeley/Kinkade junction. on Linkedin Email I have read the flood mapping overview and revised map for the LQR and have a couple of observations. In the report you describe flooding on Surfside Dr and attribute it to high river flows. This is incorrect, as far as I remember. When there has been flooding on Surfside it has almost always been due to a King tide combined with a strong north wind blowing seawater from the ocean and through the properties. (The picture in the report shows this event.) Rain and River level was not a factor. The only time there has been flooding on Surfside due to high river flow was after a water main was installed and the small berm behind Surfside was not adaquately restored following this work. One other occasion was in 1967 when a log jam at the mouth of the LQR backed up water in the entire estuary and flooded across the road at the McFeeley/Kinkade junction. link

I have read the flood mapping overview and revised map for the LQR and have a couple of observations. In the report you describe flooding on Surfside Dr and attribute it to high river flows. This is incorrect, as far as I remember. When there has been flooding on Surfside it has almost always been due to a King tide combined with a strong north wind blowing seawater from the ocean and through the properties. (The picture in the report shows this event.) Rain and River level was not a factor. The only time there has been flooding on Surfside due to high river flow was after a water main was installed and the small berm behind Surfside was not adaquately restored following this work. One other occasion was in 1967 when a log jam at the mouth of the LQR backed up water in the entire estuary and flooded across the road at the McFeeley/Kinkade junction.

Daryl Erickson asked over 2 years ago

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and observations. As you’ve experienced, central Vancouver Island is known for its seasonal rain events in the Fall and Winter, which is also the time of year for coastal storms. Some low-lying areas may be influenced by coastal flooding or river flooding, or a combination of both.
The flood analysis for Little Qualicum River outlined in the LQ River Overview Report does not include coastal flood hazards, such as storm surge and coastal flooding. The Overview Report provides a summary on present-day and future river flood conditions, with and without allowances for climate change and sea level rise. The findings, summarized on page 7 of the Report, indicate some properties located along Surfside Drive and McFeely Drive will be exposed to river flooding in the future under extreme river flooding events, such as a 200-year return period. Some low-lying areas may experience coastal and overland flooding now, which may be further influenced by extreme river flooding in the future.
For information about coastal flood hazards, visit the RDN webpage here: www.rdn.bc.ca/sea-level-rise-adaptation-program
Share Please provide an update on the Little Qualicum River hydrological study. --You must at least know what stage you are at and when you expect to release your report. That would be very helpful. (I do feel like we are due for some update or other, thanks.) on Facebook Share Please provide an update on the Little Qualicum River hydrological study. --You must at least know what stage you are at and when you expect to release your report. That would be very helpful. (I do feel like we are due for some update or other, thanks.) on Twitter Share Please provide an update on the Little Qualicum River hydrological study. --You must at least know what stage you are at and when you expect to release your report. That would be very helpful. (I do feel like we are due for some update or other, thanks.) on Linkedin Email Please provide an update on the Little Qualicum River hydrological study. --You must at least know what stage you are at and when you expect to release your report. That would be very helpful. (I do feel like we are due for some update or other, thanks.) link

Please provide an update on the Little Qualicum River hydrological study. --You must at least know what stage you are at and when you expect to release your report. That would be very helpful. (I do feel like we are due for some update or other, thanks.)

Lindsay Burrell asked over 3 years ago

With improved weather and river conditions the project teams have resumed and the two remaining river projects are scheduled for completion this year. For further details, I've posted an update, under news items' on the project page, here: Update on River Projects
Thank you for your interest in the projects. Future updates will be added to the project's webpage as things continue to progress.