Merritt gets another $3.4 million in provincial funding towards flood-protection work

The City of Merritt says it has received around $3.4 million from the Provincial Government to improve its flood-protection infrastructure.

It says the money will go towards Phase 1 of the Middlesboro Diking Project, which will include the installation of 90 metres of dikes just east of the Middlesboro Bridge, which was reopened in November last year.

In a statement, the City of Merritt says the project will safeguard homes, businesses and other vital buildings in that part of the city.

“The project includes the construction of a setback dike, which will allow the river to more naturally traverse the Coldwater River corridor through Merritt,” the statement said, noting this particular project had no previous source of secured funding until now.

“This project is an important piece of Merritt’s 2022 Council approved Flood Mitigation Plan that will enhance community resilience, create a more natural river flow, and ensure a safer, more secure future for residents and businesses.”

Funding for the project is coming from the Disaster Resilience and Innovation Funding (DRIF) program. Mayor Michael Goetz calls it a “significant” step forward as the City of Merritt continues to try and better protect itself from future flooding events.

“We now have the funding to complete a vital section of the flood protection dike that was previously unfunded,” Goetz said. “Thank you to the Province of British Columbia for helping us fill this critical gap and build a more resilient Merritt for the future.”

The project will proceed once dike alignments are confirmed, and engineering work can begin. It also said the DRIF grant will cover all of the costs of the project.

Two other phases of the Middlesboro Diking Project totaling 135 metres and 550 metres remain unfunded at this time, as do a handful of other projects that make up Merritt’s flood recovery and mitigation plan.

Several other projects have either been completed or are being worked on at the moment, as the community approaches the four year anniversary of the floods of Nov. 2021.

Earlier this year, Merritt got $60-million to shore up the banks of the Coldwater River from the Middlesboro Bridge west to Pine Street. In January, it also got just under $5-million to build the Voght Street Overland Water Pumping Station to help manage stormwater during extreme weather events.

The City of Merritt is looking at relaunching a petition in the House of Commons as it continues to advocate for its funding needs, particularly from the Federal Government. It’s previous petition was closed following the dissolution of Parliament earlier this year.

“As we navigate these changes, we are exploring the possibility of relaunching the e-petition, with a focus on engaging with the current elected government to ensure our community’s needs are prioritized,” the City of Merritt statement said.

“While recent funding announcements are a positive development, Merritt’s Flood Mitigation Plan remains incomplete. The City continues to seek additional funding to advance its comprehensive Flood Mitigation Plan.”

For the latest on flood protection and mitigation work in Merritt, including a list of all projects, go here.