Drainage Issues Continue in Lamont County

Drainage Issues Continue in Lamont County

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

What locals in the Andrew area have dubbed “Whitford Falls” has been running continuously for more than the past month.

Beavers, heavy rains, and a plugged culvert have all been contributing factors to the ongoing drainage issue. Located just south of Township Road 562 and Range Road 163, “Whitford Falls” is part of Lamont County’s Svit- Whitford licensed drainage which runs from Andrew to Mundare.

This is not the first time this type of situation has occurred in the area. The last time something of this nature happened was in the spring of 2018.

Lamont County recently held a special meeting to discuss drainage issues and listen to a proposal that outlined ways the municipality could improve drainage, roads, and infrastructure. Following that, Lamont County developed a digital webpage to provide information to its ratepayers, and allow them to ask questions and receive answers to those questions from experts in their field.

Information contained on the webpage stated, “After the 100-year flood that Lamont County received in 2018, which closed over 200 roads, it became clear that Lamont County needed to ensure infrastructure rehabilitation was a top priority and focus. A drainage study was commissioned with the intent to create a Drainage Master Plan; the report is expected this fall.

A new position, Infrastructure Technologist, was created by County Council to better address all of Lamont County’s infrastructure maintenance rehabilitation needs; the first preliminary report on County infrastructure maintenance needs was developed and presented to Council on June 3, 2020.”

It also stated, “This page is intended to provide ratepayers with information about Lamont County’s plans and progress for road and drainage improvements. Residents are encouraged to treat it as a digital “Open House”, where they can find information and ask questions to be answered by experts in their field, which will include engineers, Alberta Environment and Parks, and Lamont County staff.

As the maintenance and improvement of Lamont County’s infrastructure is at the forefront of our priorities and focus, we are developing a strategy to modernize our infrastructure to better manage the demands of modern machinery and weather patterns.

Lamont County Council wants to be open and transparent about this process. Ratepayers can be assured that the repairs won’t be just cosmetic, but actual structural upgrades using better and new products along with older methodologies.

This is a project that is anticipated to take years to complete, because of its scope, labour needs, and budget. Details of the rehabilitation program, along with the results of a drainage study, will be released in the coming months. Please watch this page for updates.”

The webpage also included a brief history of roads, weather and drainage, road and drainage improvement strategy, and information that will be included in the drainage master plan.

“The Drainage Master Plan will provide guidelines, policies, a phasing scheme, and stormwater management criteria for development in the Industrial Heartland, which will expedite economic growth without compromising the environment. The Drainage Master Plan will provide recommendations and design for major stormwater management infrastructure elements.”