Latest news with #floodmanagement
BBC News
13 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Calder Valley flood protection projects get £2m funding boost
Funding worth almost £2m will be used to better protect an area of West Yorkshire previously badly hit by flooding, a council has money would be used to strengthen existing defences and fund new flood management schemes, according to Calderdale Calder Valley has been badly affected by flooding on several occasions over the past decade, with at least 3,000 properties affected on Boxing Day 2015 a meeting on Monday, senior councillors voted to accept grants from the government and the Yorkshire Region Flood and Coastal Committees to pay for the proposed projects. The money would be used to fund work between now and 2027 focusing on shoring up current defences and investing in natural solutions to help slow the flow of water, councillors were Patient, cabinet member for climate action and housing, described the new funding as a "huge boost"."We can't do this alone. We need the resource and finance to be able to maximise the impact of flood schemes here," he said. 'Countless near-misses' Since 2012, about £133m has been secured to help protect areas of Calderdale from explained he had been a flood warden for 10 years after his own house was affected in December 2015."That was really what kickstarted me to become a member," he said."Throwing my children's homework and musical instruments into a skip really brought home the effects of extreme weather."Patient said that while the flood risk in Calderdale could never be eradicated, "we can do our best to make sure we are in the best place possible to face those challenges".Patient added that the funding boost was "especially prescient" a decade on from the Boxing Day floods, noting that there had since been "countless near-misses", and the area remained "ever more susceptible" to Swift, who was Calderdale Council leader in 2015, also said he welcomed the he stressed the need to "keep pressing" for additional government money - not just for major projects, but also for smaller, everyday work, particularly to tackle poor drainage and run-off, which he said might be linked to past mining activity in the meeting heard that communities most at risk from future flooding incidents would be prioritised for targeted said that projects would be eligible for funding once approved by the council, and could include standard flood defence work as well as "working with nature" ideas like tree planting. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
South China Morning Post
23-05-2025
- Climate
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong to spend HK$300 million on flood-control steps to protect from megastorms
Hong Kong authorities have expressed confidence they can better handle extreme weather events in the coming decades as they outlined strategies and upgrades to infrastructure worth more than HK$300 million (US$38.3 million) that will bolster defences against heavy rainfall, rising sea levels and storm surges. Advertisement In a paper released on Friday for a discussion scheduled at the Legislative Council on Tuesday, authorities said they had made significant investments in 26 vulnerable coastal areas, including in northwest Yuen Long, Sha Tau Kok Town, Shek O Village and South Horizons. They were also planning to take steps at 11 more areas such as the vicinity of the Kwun Tong Ferry Pier and Tseung Kwan O Industrial Area, to bolster resilience against flooding. A government source said on Friday authorities were 'confident' such measures would help areas to withstand megastorms on the level of super typhoons Hato and Mangkhut in 2017 and 2018, as well as the downpour in 2023 that caused heavy flooding across the city and was described as a 'once-in-500-years' event. 28:31 Hong Kong flooded by 'once-in-a-century' rainstorm Hong Kong flooded by 'once-in-a-century' rainstorm The Drainage Services Department (DSD) and Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) completed two studies in late 2024: one on flood management and strategies in response to rising sea levels and extreme rainfall, and another on coastal management. Advertisement They analysed extreme rainfall, sea level rises and storm surges under different greenhouse gas emission scenarios up to the end of the century.
Khaleej Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Dubai South to get new stormwater tunnel in Dh150-million drainage project
An advanced stormwater drainage system will be developed in Dubai South's residential district, under a Dh150-million strategic partnership agreement signed with Dubai Municipality. The agreement includes the construction of a new secondary stormwater tunnel, which will connect Dubai South's drainage network to Dubai Municipality's deep tunnel system via Expo Road. This connection will significantly improve stormwater and surface runoff management, minimise flooding risks, and safeguard roads, buildings, and public assets. The project ultimately contributes to a safer, more sustainable urban environment and enhances quality of life for residents and visitors. The project will reduce construction and operating costs for pumping stations by 20 per cent and includes the design and construction of deep tunnel infrastructure with a maximum flow rate capacity of approximately four cubic metres per second. The initiative forms part of the broader Tasreef project and supports the emirate's commitment to future-ready infrastructure that meets international standards and enhances urban resilience. In previous phases, Dubai Municipality successfully completed deep tunnel works that enhanced groundwater and stormwater infrastructure in the Al Maktoum City area, including Expo City and the Airport District. Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, director general of Dubai Municipality, said: 'Developing infrastructure in the emirate of Dubai, particularly stormwater drainage, remains one of Dubai Municipality's strategic priorities. This project reflects our integrated approach to managing surface water systems and reinforces our commitment to linking all areas of the emirate through a unified network of deep tunnels. These efforts fall under the Tasreef programme, the largest and most efficient initiative of its kind in the region, which aims to develop stormwater drainage networks for the next 100 years.' Tasreef project is a long-term stormwater drainage development programme led by Dubai Municipality with an estimated value of Dh30 billion. Scheduled for completion by 2033, the project will extend coverage to all areas of the emirate, increasing the network's drainage capacity by 700 per cent to manage over 20 million cubic metres of water per day.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Groundbreaking set for Marshall County coulee restoration project
May 17—MARSHALL COUNTY, Minn. — A groundbreaking event to mark the first phase of a channel restoration project in Marshall County is set for May 21, but additional funding will be needed to carry the project through to completion, a watershed administrator says. According to Morteza Maher, administrator of the Middle-Snake-Tamarac Rivers Watershed District (MSTRWD) in Warren, Minnesota, the roots of the Swift Coulee Restoration Project date back to the early 2000s. The project includes restoring a meandering channel across nine sections of three different townships in Marshall County. As explained in a project fact sheet, the design incorporates setback levees and spillways to reduce flood damage, along with inlet culverts and perennial native vegetation to improve water quality and wildlife habitat. By slowing water during peak flows and stabilizing the banks, the restored channel will reduce sedimentation, improve habitat and lower downstream flood risks. "The significance of Swift Coulee lies in both its drainage value and its ecological importance," Maher said in a statement. "This is a channel that has long served agriculture in our district, but like many modified natural systems, it's been pushed to its limits. Straightened, overworked, it's now prone to instability, erosion and water quality problems. "This restoration is about fixing that." Work on Phase 1 of the two-phase project is now underway, and the groundbreaking event planned for May 21 aims to showcase the work being done and the importance of securing additional funding for Phase 2, Maher says. Designed by Houston Engineering Inc., Phase 1 incorporates hydrologic, agricultural and ecological benefits, he says. Gladen Construction of LaPorte, Minnesota, received the bid for Phase 1 construction, which involved securing about 250 acres of permanent easements — which will be turned into natural upland habitat — from 12 landowners on 18 parcels. Phase 2 will be even more extensive, extending the restoration upstream and securing easements on 24 parcels from 17 landowners on about 400 acres. Securing those land easements and aligning landowner concerns with project goals has been a key challenge with the project, Maher says. "We understand that people want clarity when it comes to land rights and long-term use," Maher said. "We've worked one-on-one with landowners to ensure that easements are tailored, voluntary and respectful of landowners' desire. Transparency and trust have been central to getting us this far." The total cost of the Swift Coulee Channel Restoration Project is estimated at approximately $13 million, Maher says, including easement payments, engineering, permitting and construction. Phase 1 alone represents over $5 million in design, permitting and construction, with cost-share contributions from both state sources and regional funds. Multiple state and local partners have contributed funding for Phase 1, Maher says, including the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC), Flood Damage Reduction Work Group (FDRWG), Red River Watershed Management Board (RRWMB) and MSTRWD. Additional funding for Phase 2 is being sought through the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) and LSOHC. Such partnerships reflect a growing recognition that multi-benefit watershed projects — those that address flood resilience, water quality and habitat — are sound public investments, Maher says. Planning for Phase 2 is already underway, with early design work, feasibility assessments and landowner outreach taking place this year and into next. MSTRWD, in partnership with the Marshall County Soil and Water Conservation District, is actively seeking landowner participation, Maher said. Early involvement will help shape the project in ways that reflect local values and needs. "We're not asking people to trade farmland for habitat," Maher said. "We're looking for shared solutions that keep fields productive while improving water flow and channel stability." As part of the groundbreaking event set for 2:30 p.m. May 21, representatives from all partner agencies will be invited to mark the progress and look ahead to what remains. The event will take place near the construction corridor at 360th Avenue Northwest in Marshall County northwest of Warren, and include remarks, refreshments and opportunities for landowners to ask questions and engage in discussions about Phase 2. Maher says he hopes the momentum for the project to date will inspire neighboring landowners to join the effort going forward. "This project demonstrates that good drainage and healthy habitat aren't mutually exclusive," Maher said. "We're proving that with science, community trust and strong partnerships, we can make the system better for everyone."
