Canada/Better prepare Belle-Baie for flooding and coastal erosion

The Town of Belle-Baie, in northern New Brunswick, is adopting a Climate Change Adaptation Plan, a strategy developed with the support of citizens who have spoken out on measures to better prepare for the dangers presented by rising sea levels and coastal erosion.

The plan, commissioned from engineering firm Englobe, is due to be submitted to municipal representatives by the end of March, but the engineers in charge of the project have already identified sources of danger for the region's environment and infrastructure.

Rising average temperatures, extreme heat, rising sea levels, coastal erosion, extreme precipitations, river flooding and forest fires are just some of the climatic phenomena with which Belle-Baie will increasingly have to contend.

We have assessed all the climatic hazards that could impact the region. We carried out a risk analysis to prepare the municipality's Adaptation Plan," explains Geneviève McIntyre, civil engineer for Englobe.

According to this engineering firm, projections indicate that rising sea levels by 2100 could cause major flooding in the region in the event of storm surges.

The Belle-Baie region is coastal. There's a lot of [recent] data on flooding. With historical data, we've created maps of what could happen in the future.

A quote from Geneviève McIntyre, civil engineer for Englobe

Still according to Englobe, citizens can expect possible closures of coastal businesses, disruptions to access to docks and marinas, and even road closures in certain areas.

To better prepare Belle-Baie, the measures that will be suggested to elected officials could include, in particular, alternative drinking water supplies, restrictions on the erection of buildings in areas at risk of flooding, and the creation of a "storm-proofing" system.To better prepare Belle-Baie, measures that will be suggested to elected officials could include alternative drinking water supplies, controls on building construction in at-risk areas, relocation of road sections at risk of flooding and conversion of Beresford Dune into non-residential space.

Citizens' concerns

On Thursday evening, in the Petit-Rocher area, some 30 citizens took part in a workshop organized by the Town and Englobe. One of the objectives was to explain why the municipality wishes to adopt a Climate Change Adaptation Plan.

Many of them expressed their views, and some suggested measures to be taken by the municipality.

I'm worried about the coastline. It doesn't make sense. The coastline is disappearing. We need to install [more breakwaters, structures to protect the coast] to reduce the risk of coastal erosion. We need to modernize the water systems," says Jean Lévesque, one of the municipality's residents.

The waves are stronger. We want to protect the coastline. I live right on the beach. What can I do at home to protect the rest of the population [who live further away]? What infrastructure can I put in my backyard? We have to find solutions to the flooding problems," says Nicolle Hébert, another Belle-Baie resident.

Source: ici.radio-canada.ca/