At Ebbwater we believe in what we do, and we do it as well as we possibly can. We are passionate that Sendai principle #1: Understanding Risk is the best place to start to reduce risk. But our core work, assessing natural hazard and risk, especially in light of a changing climate, is rarely a […]
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This is a post that has been at the top of our to-do list for years…but with so many other to-dos it hasn’t made it on to our website. However, with water on the ground across the country, it seems like a good time to get this draft version up. Statistics are tough Statistics were […]
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APRIL 2019: Please note that this blog post was written in 2016 when the snowpack was higher than this year. The latest report from the BC River Forecast Centre has the Fraser snowpack at 70%-90% of normal. Flow forecasts for the Fraser River at Hope are updated daily once flows rise to near flood stage, […]
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February 2017 Update: Since originally writing this post, there has been a lot of movement internationally to develop a common language for risk. For example, the UN’s “open-ended intergovernmental expert working group on terminology relating to disaster risk reduction” has recently produced a comprehensive glossary of terms. The definitions are easier to read that the […]
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Many local governments in British Columbia have by-law and permitting requirements for local land owners whose properties lie within designated floodplains. Commonly, local governments require a letter from a qualified professional that provides information on the local flood hazard, and if any proposed changes to the property will affect the hazard. Ebbwater Consulting was hired […]
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The City of Vancouver has recognised that despite global mitigation efforts, climate change will impact the City’s future. Anticipated impacts include more intense and frequent wind and rain storms and sea level rise. Adaptation to these climate changes will require a mix of policy, planning and engineering responses. Prior to identifying preferred mitigation strategies, a […]
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The agricultural community of Delta, BC lies at the mouth of the Fraser River and is bordered on three sides by water. The majority of the agricultural land is both relatively flat and low, with half the land lying 1.5m or less above sea level. Given its proximity to water and the flat topography, in […]
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The Tsawwassen First Nation (TFN) are exploring the topic of sea level rise and coastal flood risk with their membership. Urban Systems Ltd. (USL) was retained by TFN in early 2015 to help them explore this issue further; Ebbwater Consulting was then sub-contracted by USL to act as a flood risk advisor on the project. […]
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This post is the third in a series that describes the state of flood hazard mapping in British Columbia. If this piques your interest you can also check out: Our Maps Are Old How Old is Your Map? Why it matters that our maps are old? Knowing where, and how deep water will be during […]
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Sometimes it can be a challenge to grasp how natural events are changing over time. We often look at the mountains here in Vancouver and reflect on how “the skiing was so much better 20 years ago!” or we comment on how “summers have never been hotter!”, but these types of anecdotes are frequently tossed around […]
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