Flood Mapping Program

The Water Security Agency is creating flooding mapping studies to identify hazard areas within communities caused by potential flooding from rivers or high lake water levels. The goal of providing this information is to identify effective flood mitigation activities and projects, support community development, protect the public and properties, and improve community resiliency. The flood mapping studies consist of flood maps and a detailed report that supports the information presented in the flood maps.

Flood mapping studies are prepared using the best tools and information available at the time when the study is conducted and follow technical guidelines and generally accepted engineering practices to create flood maps.

Flood maps can be used to:
• Provide a foundation for land use planning and decision making.
• Support emergency management practices.
• Identify, plan and develop flood mitigation activities, such as building dykes or other flood control infrastructure to protect people and property.

In Saskatchewan, the floodway, flood fringe, and floodplain are all defined in the SPI. The floodplain is the area of land that will be covered in water during a 1:200 year flood. The floodplain is made up of two zones, the floodway and the flood fringe.

The floodway is where the water in a 1:200 year flood is expected to meet or exceed 1 metre in depth; or flow faster than 1 metre per second.

The flood fringe is any area that the flood water reaches in a 1:200 year flood event, but the depth of water is less than 1 metre and is flowing slower than 1 metre per second.

Flood-proofed is defined in the SPI as measures incorporated into the design and construction that reduce or remove the risk of flood damage.

The SPI require flood proofing of new buildings and additions to buildings to an elevation of 0.5 metres above the 1:200 year flood elevation in the flood fringe. Redevelopment of existing buildings in the floodway. Must also be 0.5 metres above the 1:200-year flood elevation. New buildings in the floodway are prohibited due to the potential flood risk in this area.

For more information on the SPI and development in flood hazard areas, please visit Land Use Planning and Flood Management.

While the Water Security Agency offers a flood mapping program, at this time, the focus is primarily on larger communities or specific municipalities that are considered to be at higher risk of severe, recurrent, or damaging flooding. In some cases, municipalities may choose to work with independent consultants to develop flood maps tailored to their local context, which can be done independently of the WSA.

The WSA and the Province of Saskatchewan value the importance of community safety, particularly in relation to flood-prone areas. While mapping may not be immediately available for all regions, the WSA will continue to monitor areas across the province and evaluate future mapping opportunities as capacity allows.

WSA undertook a Community Flood Vulnerability Assessment (CFVA) process and completed a report in 2017 that identified flood prone urban municipalities in the province. These municipalities were evaluated based on what type of flood mechanisms they were exposed to, then assessed further based on several qualitative and quantitative measures. The municipalities deemed to be at highest risk of flooding based on this information are prioritized to receive flood mapping studies and support from WSA.

It’s important to note that the absence of flood maps does not limit a municipality’s ability to adopt a new Official Community Plan (OCP) or Zoning Bylaw. These planning documents may proceed without flood mapping in place. Under The Statements of Provincial Interest Regulations (SPI), municipalities are encouraged to incorporate any available flood mapping into their land use planning processes in so far as is practical.

Where previous or existing studies are available, municipalities may choose to incorporate them into their planning documents, provided that Council is satisfied these studies adequately reflect the policies and objectives outlined in the OCP.

For more information on the SPI, zoning bylaws or official community plans, please visit Land Use Planning and Flood Management.