The Flood Management Plan is a master plan presenting solutions to reduce the risk of coastal and riverine flooding in the City of Courtenay. A set of 86 recommended actions are proposed for implementation. These actions are designed to work together to reduce the impact of future flood events.

The Flood Manangement Plan was recently adopted by City of Courtenay Council, and staff are working to implement the recommendations of the plan in the upcoming years.

A map summarizing these recommendations is available here: Recommendations Overview Map [PDF - 16 MB]

The full report can be viewed at the links below:

• Executive Summary - Flood Management Plan [PDF - 5 MB]
• Flood Management Plan - Final Report [PDF - 39 MB]
• Appendix A - Historic Flood Events [PDF - 895 KB]
• Appendix B - Methodology Details [PDF - 2 MB]
• Appendix C - Hazard & Consequence Map Atlas [PDF - 48 MB]
• Appendix D - Public Communications Material [PDF - 3 MB]
• Appendix E - Public Survey Results [PDF - 1 MB]

Project Background

In the City of Courtenay, flood risk is present along the shoreline and the river systems. With changes in water levels from both the ocean and rivers, we are taking proactive steps to reduce impacts of future flood events.

Future sea level rise and its impacts on water levels next to the sea.

Riverine flooding and its impacts within the floodplain.

This Flood Management Plan facilitates complex decision making, as we consider the trade-offs associated with reducing flood risk over the short- and long-term. The Plan was informed by the recent City of Courtenay OCP, the CVRD Coastal Flood Mapping Project, and CVRD Coastal Flood Adaptation Strategy, along with other flood-related projects previously conducted at the City of Courtenay.

For more detailed information:

• Flood Management Plan FAQs
• Flood Consequence Maps (maps are best viewed on a computer)
• Public Information Session Recording - June 15, 2023
• Flood Risk and Resilience 101 [PDF - 2 MB]
• Ways to Take Action  [PDF - 2 MB]

Related Reading

The following links are provided as additional resources for understanding flood risk, planning for flooding in BC and Canada, and responding to flooding as a homeowner or household. These come from a range of sources and may not be directly applicable to specific flood risks in Courtenay.

• Local
  • City of Courtenay OCP – 2022 Update
  • CVRD Flood Adaptation Strategy
    • Glossary of related terms can be found on pg. 98.
• CVRD Coastal Flood Mapping Project
• Provincial / National
  • ClimateReadyBC: Floods in B.C.
  • BC Adapts Short Videos
  • BC Adapts: Planning for Sea Level Rise
  • Sea Level Rise Adaptation Primer
• For Homeowners
  • Regional District of Central Okanagan's Non-Structural Flood Mitigation Resource Guide (RDCO)
  • Homeowner’s Guide to Property Flood Resilience
  • Brisbane City’s Flood Resilient Homes Program
  • Reducing Flood Risk to Residential Buildings That Cannot Be Elevated
  • Retrofitting for Flood Resilience (excerpt)