Protecting homes and businesses from drought and floods

Press Release

Mar 27, 2025

Alberta is investing more than $19 million through Budget 2025, if passed, to help protect families and businesses from future floods and drought.

In recent years, drought and flooding have been felt across the province, and building the critical infrastructure needed to protect Albertans can be costly for many municipalities. That’s why Alberta’s government is investing more than $19 million in 10 different projects through the Drought and Flood Protection Program to protect homes, safeguard businesses and, ultimately, save lives.

These 10 projects will help protect critical infrastructure from floods, while increasing water storage to reduce the impacts of drought and build other necessary projects across the province.

“Albertans have seen first-hand the impacts that floods and drought can have on our communities and livelihoods. This funding is helping communities build the next generation of drought and flood mitigation projects. While we can’t change the weather, we can help protect families, businesses and communities for years to come.”

Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas

This funding will help eight municipalities and two First Nations build projects designed to keep homes and businesses dry, ensure critical infrastructure remains operational during emergencies and maintain reliable access to water. This includes community upgrades such as:

Building a retaining wall to protect the Slave Lake Airport and Helitack Base during floods.
Constructing a berm to safeguard Siksika Nation’s newly constructed Washington Sewage Lagoon and other local infrastructure.
Building 300 metres of shoreline protection along the South Saskatchewan River to protect the Medicine Hat Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Stopping erosion along Carrot Creek to help protect infrastructure in St. Albert.
Creating a naturalized stormwater management pond in St. Paul to reduce drought risks and improve water quality.
Improving flood protections in the Calgary area by replacing the Landon Ditch with a system to manage stormwater and guard infrastructure.

“By investing in preventative erosion measures now, we will be minimizing the impacts of large storm events for St. Albertans and our municipal neighbors in the future. It is through partnerships with the Government of Alberta such as these that we can efficiently build resilient communities across the province.”

Cathy Heron, mayor, St. Albert

“Lake Elizabeth and its surrounding natural space are a treasured part of our city. Rising water levels over the past decade have eroded the shoreline, flooded natural areas, and threatened both private property and city infrastructure. The Drought and Flood Protection grant is critical to stabilizing the water levels and restoring these valuable natural spaces, ensuring that Lake Elizabeth remains a community asset for generations to come.”

Grant Creasey, mayor, City of Lacombe

“This is good news for the county, as we work to manage surface storm water issues for the benefit of all residents.”

Bart Guyon, reeve, Brazeau County

“The investment confirmed by the Government of Alberta will help the City of Medicine Hat’s plans to reduce the risk of flood damage to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Combining this funding, along with the city’s contributions, will aid in providing shoreline protection, flood risk management, environmental protection, operational safety and sustainability.”

Pat Bohan, managing director of development and infrastructure, City of Medicine Hat

Alberta’s government is investing $125 million over five years into the Drought and Flood Protection Program, which is already showing results. Last year, the government delivered millions to counties, towns, cities and Indigenous partners for infrastructure projects, which are now underway. In total, more than $50 million has now been invested in 28 projects through the program.

The next round of funding applications will open in October, with another $25 million available to protect businesses, families and communities.

Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge faced by Alberta with continued investments in education and health, environmental protection, lower taxes for families and a focus on the economy.

Quick facts

Funding for all projects approved in this round will be paid out in 2025-26.
Of the 10 projects receiving funding, seven are focused on primarily responding to floods, one focused on responding to the impacts of drought and two are focused on mitigating impacts from both drought and floods.
Of the 18 projects receiving funding in round one, 10 were focused on responding to the impacts of drought.
In round one of funding, $5,727,119 was deferred to 2025-26, with $5 million going to the Fort Mckay Water Supply Infrastructure Rehabilitation and $727,119 going to the Glenmore Trail Stormwater Diversion Project.

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