Merritt receives $3.4M from B.C. government to build flood-protection infrastructure

The City of Merritt says the B.C. government is granting it almost $3.4 million to support the building of flood-protection infrastructure.

The money comes from the Disaster Resilience and Innovation Fund (DRIF) and will be used to build the Middlesboro Phase 1 Diking Project, which the city says is key to its 2022 flood mitigation plan.

“The Middlesboro-Phase 1 Project will install a critical section of flood protection dikes in Merritt, safeguarding homes, businesses, and vital infrastructure,” Merritt’s flood mitigation department said in a news release.

“The project includes the construction of a setback dike, which will allow the river to more naturally traverse the Coldwater River corridor through Merritt.”

In November 2021, businesses, homes, and bridges in Merritt were flooded when the Coldwater River exceeded its banks during an unprecedented atmospheric river. The entire city was evacuated, with many residents displaced and businesses ruined.

This infrastructure fulfills part of the flood mitigation plan, but the city says much of it remains unfunded. The total cost of the plan is estimated at $165 million.

The DRIF grant will cover all costs associated with the Middlesboro-Phase 1 Diking Project.

— With files from Renee Bernard.