Friday, January 30, 2026
The province of British Columbia is investing $3.3 million to support the Sumas River Watershed Flood Mitigation Initiative.
The funding, conveyed on Dec. 3, 2025 will go to “critical design and assessment work leading to structural and restoration projects,” a province of B.C. release said.
“December’s flooding in the Sumas region was a vivid reminder that this critical national economic and transportation corridor is highly prone to water surges during periods of heavy rainfall. This funding enables the Sumas River Watershed Flood Mitigation Planning Initiative to build on the progress already made and finalize key components of its flood-mitigation strategy,” provincial minister of emergency management and climate readiness Kelly Greene said.
The six signatories of the Sumas River Watershed Flood Mitigation Planning Initiative are the Province of B.C., the Semá:th, Máthxwi and Leq’á:mel First Nations, the City of Abbotsford and the City of Chilliwack.
The signatories are working collaboratively toward a comprehensive flood-mitigation and ecosystem-restoration plan for the Sumas Prairie, the release said.
A hydraulic model, risk assessment and ecological assessment are underway along with a series of studies.
The studies include examination of water quality, fish passage, conveyance, pump station functionality and economic studies.
The assessments identify the most appropriate measures to mitigate flood risk, restore habitat and build resilience throughout the watershed, the release said.
