Sumas River Watershed Flood Mitigation Planning Initiative

The goal of the Sumas River Watershed Flood Mitigation Plan (SRWFMP) is to reduce flood risk in the Sumas River Watershed.

This area is within the Stó:lō traditional territory known as S’ólh Téméxw. A joint effort is vital. This initiative brings together the Semá:th, Leq'á:mel and Máthxwi First Nations, the cities of Abbotsford and Chilliwack, and the B.C. government to develop a comprehensive flood plan.

The November 2021 atmospheric river floods devastated British Columbia's communities and habitats. The flooding in the Sumas River Watershed showed the need to collaboratively prepare for future floods. There is a need for communities to repair, rebuild, and recover for a more resilient future.

In 2023, six parties signed the Sumas River Watershed Flood Mitigation Collaborative Framework. The goal of this framework is to reduce flood risk and restore ecosystems for everyone's benefit. The partners collaborate on emergency management, flood planning, and habitat restoration.

On this page

• Who’s involved
• Lotse th’á:le, Lets’emó:t–One Heart, One Mind
• Initial work
• Shared vision
• Structure and decision-making
• Key documents
• News releases
• Feedback
• Related efforts

Who’s involved

The six partners of the collaborative framework are:

• Sumas First Nation (Semá:th)
• Leq'á:mel First Nation
• Matsqui First Nation (Máthxwi)
• The city of Abbotsford
• The city of Chilliwack
• The government of British Columbia

The partners are also urging the government of Canada to participate.

Lotse th’á:Le, Lets’emó:t–One Heart, One Mind

The partners have committed to working together in a good way. One of the pillars of collaboration is Lotse th’á:Le, Lets’emó:t, a Halq'eméylem word that means “One Heart, One Mind.”

The six partners commit to:

• Identify and pursue actions for flood risk reduction and ecosystem restoration
• Use the partners' combined efforts to achieve mutual benefits in the spirit of reconciliation
• Work with affected communities, the media, stakeholders, and other governments in a respectful manner
• Plan for the effects of climate change, especially variable and extreme flooding conditions

Initial work

Flood mitigation planning requires a holistic view of the watershed. Although water quantity is important, the partners recognize that it is not the only factor to consider. The SRWFMP considers cultural, social, economic, and environmental values. The plan aims to include a mix of infrastructure, non-structural, and nature-based solutions.

Initial work includes:

• Upgrade Abbotsford’s Barrowtown pump station (see News Releases)
• Upgrade dikes damaged by the 2021 atmospheric river events (through parallel recovery processes)
• Build relationships between the six partners through a facilitated planning process
• Develop a comprehensive hydrological model
• Conduct flood-risk assessments
• Collect scientific data and traditional knowledge of the land
• Develop balancing principles and planning values
• Feed shared interests to the Transboundary Flood Initiative (TFI)

This project is significant and complex. The partners agree on the urgency to make progress. They also know it takes time to build and put in place the best plan for the Sumas River Watershed. The team includes experts in engineering, planning, biology, agriculture, transportation, policy, and Indigenous Knowledge Keepers.

Shared vision

The partners have created Balancing Principles to guide the analysis and implementation of mitigation options. The Balancing Principles are Lotse th’á:Le, Lets’emó:t, One Heart One Mind, responsibility, foresight, safety, environment, sustenance and wellbeing.

Structure and decision-making

The framework includes three tables that work at different levels to develop solutions. Each table works together to address flooding concerns and ecosystem restoration.

The three tables are:

• Leadership Table
• Steering Committee
• Technical Table

Leadership Table

The Leadership Table has elected leaders of the six partners. This table:

• Meets twice a year to oversee the SRWFMP framework
• Directs the Steering Committee on the SRWFMP scope, mandate, and strategy
• Develops and approves joint communications
• Resolves disputes

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee has senior staff from the six partners. This committee:

• Meets twice a month to guide the flood plan's creation
• Sets priorities, milestones, and evaluates progress toward project goals
• Forms working groups to draft proposals and work products
• Directs research conducted by the Technical Table
• Builds shared understanding among the partners
• Suggests ways to align flood mitigation activities with the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act

Technical Table

The Technical Table has flood planners, experts, scientists and knowledge holders. This table:

• Meets twice a month to develop work plans
• Responds to technical questions from the Steering Committee
• Creates technical working groups to research and plan
• Coordinates information sharing between SRWFMP and recovery efforts

Key documents

• Balancing principles (PDF, 64KB)
  • Plain-text version (PDF, 42KB)

News releases

• Improvements to Abbotsford pump station build resilience, make people safer (February 14, 2024)
• Flood mitigation framework, projects make Abbotsford region more resilient (April 28, 2023)
• Flood recovery, Sumas Dike repairs underway in Abbotsford (November 10, 2022)
• Food security increases with improved Fraser Valley flood resiliency (June 20, 2023)

Feedback

If you have feedback on the SRWFMP, please contact your local First Nation or municipality.

Related efforts

There are several initiatives that inform or support this work, such as:

• The Nooksack and Sumas Watershed Transboundary Flood Initiative
• B.C. Flood Strategy
• Development of a Watershed Security Strategy and Fund
• Trilateral Accord and Declaration to Address the Decline of Wild Pacific Salmon