By Melissa Mangelsen/Nipawin Journal
Merle Massie, PhD, Post-Doctoral Fellow School of Environment and Sustainability with the University of Saskatchewan is conducting a research project on flooding and how municipalities deal with flooding.
The project is part of an international research study with Sweden, Finland and Canada.
The three case studies chosen for the Canadian portion of the research are the RM of Kelsey in Manitoba, Cumberland House, and the Village of Arborfield, which is within the Carrot River East Watershed Division.
The research began last spring and is focusing on boreal areas.
“There is a lot of research in urban and farm areas, but not boreal areas,” said Massie.
Flooding in these areas has been a major problem in the past, and Masse is working on seeing how smaller communities respond to flooding.
“We’re looking at how municipal governments respond to and plan for flooding,” she said. “There’s a difference between scientific and local knowledge. This gives us the ability to listen to local knowledge as well as elders.”
The project is currently in progress and is focusing on preparation work, emergency readiness, dykes, recover and evacuation plans.
“We’re learning from past floods and what can we do differently next time.”
They are also trying to understand the impact of, and response to, flooding concerns across boreal environments.
Flood events on the Torne and Inari rivers in northern Sweden and Finland will be studied alongside flood preparation, events and rehabilitation in the Saskatchewan River Sub-basin of Western Canada.
She said the need for local communication is vital.
Dr. Maureen Reed and Dr. Massie, are part of an international team funded by MISTRA: The Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research, based out of Sweden.
The research team is interested in speaking with people who have had prior experience with floods. Massie said interviews can be conducted over the phone or in person, and will take about an hour. Those who have volunteered to participate in an interview will receive a copy of the final report. The report is geared toward finding best practices and ideas for anticipating and dealing with flood events.
“We’re really interested in people who have experienced flooding. We’re happy to chat with them and hear their stories,” she said.
They also welcome any additional information from regional crisis or emergency volunteer groups, watershed committees, environmental action and protection agencies. Ducks Unlimited, and other groups with direct experience in flooding forecasting, planning, prevention or rehabilitation are also welcome.
Massie can be reached at 306 966 5630, or by e-mail at merle.massie@usask.ca.
Massie hopes that most of the data will be collected by the end of April, as they hope to start public presentations this summer.
Massie said that if additional information comes in during this time, it would be added to the report. The completed report is expected to wrap up this fall.
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