nhc Featured in ESRI Canada's 2011 Map Gallery Calendar
nhc's floodplain mapping of the Fraser and Nechako Rivers at Prince George, British Columbia has been included as one of 12 featured projects in ESRI Canada's 2011 Map Gallery calendar. The map calendar features examples of projects, selected through an annual competition, that make notable use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. The City of Prince George is partly within the floodplain of the Fraser and Nechako Rivers and is subject to an unusual flooding situation. The Fraser River floods during spring as a result of snow melt, while the Nechako River floods in the fall or winter due to ice freeze-up. In the winter of 2007-08, the City experienced severe ice-related flooding, which highlighted the vulnerability of flood-prone areas along the river. Just six months earlier, flooding had also occurred along the Fraser. When people develop and settle floodplain areas, protection from flooding becomes a necessity. The traditional engineering approach to flood protection focuses on physical, technical, and economic challenges, but has not always adequately addressed social, cultural, and ecological constraints. The City selected nhc to lead a flood hazard and solutions study to better understand the complex river and ice behavior and to develop a flood protection plan.
The study was unique in many aspects, using a multidisciplinary approach to flood management that incorporated both physical and social constraints and maximized benefits, while reducing flood vulnerability and risks. Technically, the study used sophisticated numerical modeling tools, GIS, and an innovative statistical approach for estimating ice-related flood levels. Impacts of climate change and forest devastation by the mountain pine beetle on river flows were also incorporated. Consultations, presentations, and meetings with the community and all levels of government were key to developing, evaluating, and recommending a flood protection plan to the City. As one component of this project, nhc worked with City staff to prepare a set of floodplain maps to accompany the City's updated floodplain bylaws. One of these maps is featured in January of ESRI Canada's 2011 Map Gallery calendar. The entire calendar can be viewed at http://www.esricanada.com/mapgallery.