Our View: Experts offer flood strategy

Governments at all levels are ramping up their preparations for the possibility of disastrous flooding along the Fraser River .

Today, for instance, we have included a story outlining some of the effort that Langley Township authorities are putting into helping homeowners, farmers, and businesses inside and out of the potential flood areas cope with what could easily become another historic event.

The official efforts being made to stave off near-term tragedy are laudable. No doubt, in the event that the worst possibilities are realized when the river's waters reach their high mark (probably at the end of May or beginning of June), the efforts started now will pay off in saved lives and reduced property damage.

But it's more than a little late to start thinking about floodwaters now. More thinking should have gone into the possibilities while floodplains were being walled off and developed for various uses not in harmony with the natural purpose of those lands.

Prior to encroachment of development, floodplains allowed swelling volumes of water raging down the river to spread out over large areas, creating temporary lakes of sorts, slowing the water's momentum and reducing its overall rise.

The volume of water rushing down the Fraser every spring is unchanged by the presence or absence of buffering floodplains. Consequently, the destruction of floodplain capability requires not only higher dikes to contain the spring freshet, but stronger ones to withstand the increased erosional force of water that has been squeezed into a narrower passage.

There have been several close calls since the last catastrophic flood in 1948. Unfortunately, the river will probably have to win once more before its true capacity for destruction is taken seriously.

In the meantime, do heed the experts' advice, and prepare for the worst.

- B.G.