NWT publishes new flood maps for five communities

The GNWT has released new flood hazard and inundation maps for communities identified as being at the highest risk of river flooding in the territory.

According to a Monday news release, the updated maps replace existing flood maps that were developed in the 1980s.

Primarily funded by the federal Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program, new maps are now available for Aklavik, Fort Simpson, Hay River, Kátł’odeeche First Nation and Nahanni Butte.

Maps for Fort Good Hope, Fort Liard, Fort McPherson, Jean Marie River and Tulita are expected to be completed by 2028.

The maps take into account community input, the latest flood hazard data and the projected impacts of climate change, the GNWT stated.

The previous maps were based on the prospect of either a 100-year flood – representing a one-percent chance of occurring in any given year – or the largest recorded flood at the time they were created.

By contrast, the GNWT stated, the new maps are built around a 200-year flood model, taking into account the possibility of a more damaging event.

The new maps were “informed by detailed engineering studies and longer, more comprehensive data, allowing for an updated assessment of flood hazards and higher-magnitude events,” Monday’s news release stated.

The GNWT has also developed a guide to help community governments incorporate the new maps into planning and development decisions.

More: See the maps available so far

The maps and guide form “important tools to support community emergency management plans and land use planning,” communities minister Vince McKay was quoted as saying.

“The maps will guide flood mitigation activities, improve public safety, and empower residents and property owners to make informed decisions about their flood risks.”