Economic Costs
In 2021, southern BC experienced devastating floods. Recovering from this flooding has cost over $9 billion. In the last two years, atmospheric rivers have caused multiple landslides that have washed away homes and resulted in multiple deaths.
Climate change is causing a shift in precipitation patterns where we receive more precipitation during the winter and less in the summer. Additionally, that precipitation often comes in the form of large storms rather than smaller amounts of rain spread over days and weeks. This puts stress on the landscape as it has to absorb more moisture all at once.
At the same, historic land use decisions, such as allowing clear cut logging in watersheds, has made it harder for landscapes to absorb moisture. Increased amounts of precipitation run directly into streams and exacerbate flooding.
To address the impacts of flooding, it is critical to rebuild natural infrastructure. Wetlands, forests, and healthy streambanks offer the same protection as built infrastructure at half the cost. Restoration of these areas also provides desirable, locally-available jobs to people living in affected communities.
