The Alberta government has announced more funding for flood and drought protection.
The province is to invest an additional $31 million over four years in flood resiliency projects through the Alberta Community Resilience Program.
The 10-year, $500-million program has so far helped to build flood barriers, as well as other safeguards.
Another $14 million is to go to the Watershed Resilience and Restoration Program.
READ MORE: Final round of Alberta flood, drought funding announced
That program had been set to wrap up in 2017.
Environment Minister Shannon Phillips says the money will help communities adapt to changing climate and more common severe weather.
“Flood and drought events can be devastating to Alberta families and our economy,” she said in a statement Friday.
“Our additional investment in flood and drought resiliency will help our communities adapt to a changing climate where severe weather will be more common.”
According to the province, the Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program grants will pay for the “restoration, enhancement and creation of more than 600 hectares of wetlands and 40 kilometres of riparian areas, the lush strips of land adjacent to lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands.”
“We commend the Government of Alberta for its leadership, foresight and continued commitment to green infrastructure supporting watershed resilience,” Ducks Unlimited Canada’s Barry Bishop said in a statement. “In relation to restored wetlands, the Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program will provide sustained benefits from Alberta’s natural environment.”
-With files from Phil Heidenreich.
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