Big changes may be coming for flood control in Harrison Hot Springs.
During their June 6 meeting, the village council approved applying for a $6 million grant to increase the Harrison Lake dike from 13.9 metres high to 15 metres high, raising the wastewater treatment plant road by two metres and rebuild the foreshore area around the plant.
The funding would come from the Canada Community Building Fund in B.C. Established in 2014, the fund formerly known as the federal Gas Tax fund provides local governments throughout the province with funding for infrastructure and capacity-building projects over the course of 10 years. B.C. is expected to receive a total of just over $3 billion in such funding from the federal government.
Last summer, significant snowmelt along the northern Lillooet River cause water levels to rise throughout the Fraser Valley and into Harrison Lake. The peak of the summer flooding was expected to hit about 13.2 metres, which approached the dike’s threshold and put much of Harrison Lake’s normally spacious beach underwater. Travel along nearby Rockwell Drive was limited to light traffic only due to concerns of potential flooding at tha time, and the District of Kent rolled out sandbags for residents to brace themselves for flooding.
In other council business:
– The council approved writing a letter of objection to the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for the Chillwack and Mission-Maple Ridge areas. With the 10-year census, the province has increased the number of provincial election districts from 42 to 43, resulting in the reconfiguration of existing electoral boundaries, including the electoral area housing not only the village but the District of Kent as well. Village officials were concerned about effective representation of local issues in higher government branches if the boundaries continue to change.
– Council approved the 2021 annual report.
Starting June 20, regular Village Council meetings will be held at the council chambers at the village office, located at 495 Hot Springs Road. The June 20, July 11, Aug. 8 and Sept. 12 meetings will not be streamed live via Zoom or recorded for YouTube.