The Tsuut’ina Nation has formally withdrawn its objection to the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir project.

In letters sent to the Natural Resources Conservation Board and the Impact Assessment Agency, the Tsuut’ina Nation says it has withdrawn its objections to the reservoir and will no longer participate in the project’s regulatory process.

“This marks a major milestone in the regulatory review of the Springbank Reservoir and we are pleased to continue to work with our First Nations partners,” Minister of Transportation, Ric McIver says.

“Our primary concern has always been the protection of our people and our land. We have reached an agreement that provides that protection and allows us to mitigate impacts from flooding in the future," Tsuut’ina Nation Chief Roy Whitney says. "The agreement reached is an example of how our governments can work together.”

Following the 2013 flood, SR1 has been designed to provide flood protection along the Elbow River in Calgary and other downstream communities.

Once built, SR1 will become part of a flood mitigation system which includes the Glenmore Reservoir, berms at Redwood Meadows and Bragg Creek.

In July and August 2019, Alberta Transportation responded to a supplemental information request from the federal regulator, including how government was addressing Indigenous concerns.

Future consultation is planned with both community stakeholders and Indigenous groups to address outstanding questions from regulators.

 

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