Emergency Dike along the Coldwater River (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

MERRITT 2021 FLOODS

‘Extremely disturbing’; province, City of Merritt aware of dike issues ahead of catastrophic 2021 floods

Sep 13, 2023 | 4:39 PM

MERRITT, B.C. — A new report, authored by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, is providing fresh insights on the state of the diking system in Merritt — what was known and when it was known ahead of the devastating 2021 floods. In November of that year, an atmospheric river event burst the banks of the Coldwater River, destroying countless homes and forcing thousands to evacuate.

In the four years leading up to the 2021 Merritt floods, both provincial and municipal officials were repeatedly warned about multiple issues with the dike system in Merritt.

“For four years in a row, beginning in 2018, an independent engineer, hired by the City of Merritt, produced reports that went to the city and that informed the city of significant problems with the dikes. And I have to stress ‘problems.’ These were multiple problems on both sides of the Coldwater River,” said Ben Parfitt, report author, BC Policy Analyst with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

The flooding in Merritt is estimated to have caused at least $150 million in damage. All that despite the fact that government officials were warned and appear to have failed to act.

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“It appears that the provincial government, which received that information, did nothing with it or if they did, it wasn’t part of the FOI (Freedom of Information) record which is extremely disturbing,” added Parfitt, “because the provincial inspector of dikes has clear powers to order local dike authorities to take action.”

That assertion from Parfitt that the government has the right to take action was disputed by the Ministry of Forests, saying that no orders issued to make improvements in recent years.

“In an emailed response to questions submitted by the CCPA-BC, Nigel McInnis, a senior public affairs officer with the Ministry of Forests, wrote that when the Dike Maintenance Act (DMA) first became law in 1953 it was “not intended” that dike inspectors would issue such orders,” reads a section of Parfitt’s report.

First-term Mayor Mike Goetz ran on a platform of upgrading the dike system in Merritt. The news that issues were discovered as far back as 2018 was a punch in the gut, yet he continues to take a positive outlook to the future.

“Some of those answers will be taken care of while the reports moves on. As we are talking here, you can hear the rebuilding happening behind me,” noted Goetz. “That is what we are focusing on in the community now. We look to the future to move ahead, and when we are safe and sound and everything is back, then we will look to the past and start asking those questions. But right now, it’s about moving forward.”

While improved dikes are easily noticeable within the community of Merritt, some were installed as emergency measures and will still need to be replaced with permanent dikes to help better protect the city.

“Our flood plain here before on a flood level would have affected 130 households. Now, with the new flood plain, it’s 1,274. That changes. That information needs to be taken to the province and they need to act accordingly on it,” added Goetz.

Upgrading the entire dike system is estimated to cost more than $140 million. With a tax base of just 7,000 residents, Goetz says that target isn’t feasible despite the forest ministry stating municipalities are responsible for repairs.

“Under the Dike Maintenance Act (DMA) and the current flood governance model in B.C., local diking authorities are responsible for maintenance, repairs, and leading upgrades to dikes,” reads an emailed statement to CFJC News from the Ministry of Forests.

“It’s not feasible for any community to go into their coffers and find (that amount). We are almost two years later still dealing with the federal government, DMAF (Disaster Mitigation and Adaption Fund) to get some federal funding,” said Goetz.

Policy Alternatives made three recommendations to government following the report, with the biggest calling on the province to assume authority for all dikes, a move that Goetz agrees with.

“We need to have a provincial diking authority. One of the common terms that scares me is an orphaned dike. How do you have a dike that nobody looks after that holds back a body of water,” questioned Goetz. “We need a diking authority and I think this report shows that fact that we have everybody (pointing fingers) and we need somebody to take responsibility.”

The BC United party echoed that call for the province to set up and take responsibility.

“The province has really turned a blind eye to this. Merritt paid the price for that with no works being done whatsoever. We need to see a meaningful plan moving forward and those funds allocated,” said Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Peter Milobar. “What (the government) was warned about might happen, actually happened. As a result, almost 7,000 people had the impacts of flooding happen without any type of action be undertaken by the province ahead of time.”

While it’s easy to point fingers, Parfitt believes blame in the end should lie at the feet of both the city and the province.

“We really need to get ahead of this thing and that is going to require the provincial government stepping up to the plate in a significant way, both in terms of increasing its regulation of dikes but also in investing the funds that are going to be needed to build dikes to a higher standard that is going to protect communities,” concluded Parfitt.