The barrier is designed to protect Sunnyside and Hillhurst from a 1-in-100-year flood event. This means it can protect the community from a flood that has a one per cent chance of happening in any given year.

This level of protection:

• Reduces flood risk to homes, businesses and infrastructure.
• Meets provincial and federal flood protection standards.
• Supports Calgary's long-term climate resilience efforts.

Homes, buildings and other infrastructure in Sunnyside are impacted when river flows reach levels of 927 m³/s (1:10). There is a 10 per cent chance of this occurring every year. Find out if your property is at risk of flooding​.

To protect Sunnyside from future flooding, the Flood Mitigation Measures Assessment​ (FMMA) report, approved by Council in spring of 2017, recommended that a combination of mitigation solutions that work together to create a flexible and adaptable flood risk management program. Each piece of the strategy provides great benefits independently, but together, they ensure the most effective flood protection strategy.

Below is a summary of this multi-measure approach to building flood resiliency that includes the construction of a new upstream reservoir, as well as changes to the TransAlta’s Ghost Reservoir and the construction of community-level flood barriers.

Learn more about Calgary's Flood Mitigation and Resiliency Plan.

The flood barrier is one part of Calgary's broader flood mitigation strategy. Other measures include upstream flood storage projects, reservoir operations and community-level flood protection projects.

Together, these measures help reduce flood risk across Calgary.

Learn more about The City’s Flood Mitigation Strategy:

Due in part to the geography as well as an outdated drainage system, Sunnyside is more prone to flooding and this is something that The City is working to fix. In addition to the flood barrier, several projects have been completed or are currently underway to reduce flooding that happens in the community.

Visit Calgary.ca/sunnysidecdi for a list of projects and up to date information.

The section of barrier between Centre St and 10 St N.W. is an average height of 1.5m. The maximum height of the barrier will be 3.4m in certain sections depending on existing elevation. 

The barrier uses three types of flood protection systems based on site conditions.

1. Sheet pile flood wall (about half the barrier is sheet pile)
   A permanent steel wall installed deep below ground to help hold back flood water.
   • Works well in areas with limited space
   • Minimizes construction impacts
   • Reduces the need for tree removal
   • Is only used where it will not affect groundwater flow
2. Concrete flood wall
   A permanent concrete wall designed to hold back flood water.
   • Designed to hold back flood water
   • Requires more space and construction activity
   • Used in areas where groundwater must move freely beneath the wall
3. Demountable flood wall
   A temporary wall installed only during flood events.
   • Set-up during emergency conditions
   • Removed when not needed

Removing a tree is always a last resort. Some tree removal was necessary to build the flood barrier and improve public spaces in the area. Approximately 200-250 tree removals are required as part of the project. 

The project team adjusted the design where possible to reduce tree loss.

Before construction began, every tree in the project area was inventoried and assessed.

For more information on Memorial Drive Trees, please visit Memorial Drive trees.

The project includes planting approximately 250 new trees, along with new shrubs and flowers throughout the corridor.

These plantings will help restore the area and support a healthy urban forest.

For more information on Memorial Drive Trees, please visit Memorial Drive trees.

Whenever possible, removed trees are reused to support environmental and community projects, including:

• Fish habitat improvement projects.
• Wildlife habitat restoration.
• Planting beds and seating areas in Sunnyside and around Prince's Island.

For more information on Memorial Drive Trees, please visit Memorial Drive trees.

Yes. Vibration monitoring is used during sheet pile installation to help protect nearby utilities, bridges, buildings and homes.

The Peace Bridge and the Prince's Island Park Pedestrian Bridge remain open during construction. Temporary pathway detours may be required in some areas while work is underway.

During project planning, community members were asked about pedestrian crossings along Memorial Drive. Based on feedback, the project retained the existing crossings at 7 Street N.W. and 9 Street N.W. instead of adding a new crossing at 8 Street N.W.

The barrier design includes features (like a concrete wall with a railing and boulders) that discourage unsafe crossings along Memorial Drive.