AWA Letter to ESRD Minister: Elbow McLean Dam Concerns, Support for Bow-Elbow Room for River Pilot

Regarding flood mitigation proposals in the Bow and Elbow River watersheds, Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) is writing to request that the Alberta government:

• Ensure there is public review of the cost-benefit analyses of flood mega-projects, along with the first-cut environmental analysis of the Elbow McLean dam, before making any further decisions to proceed with these projects;
• Not proceed with design and environmental assessments for the Elbow River McLean dam in Kananaskis Country due to its ecological harm and catastrophic failure risk in high water events; and
• Support Bow-Elbow ‘Room for the River’ ecosystem-based, cost-effective pilot project ideas to reduce vulnerable floodplain infrastructure and improve regional flood and drought resiliency.