Plans for a southwest berm around High River have taken another step forward.

Mayor Craig Snodgrass says it isn't finalized yet but it's now at a stage where it's starting to take shape.

"We've come to an agreement on the alignment of that berm with the affected landowner, so we've got enough information so we can do the final engineering and the surveying is taking place out there now and all the geo-assessments are happening now so that's great," he says. "Once we have all that we can finalize the application with the Alberta Government and they can fund the thing and away we go."

He says work could start on the berm next spring.

In the meantime the bags along 12th Avenue he says will stay where they are until at least next June.

"We'll have to assess it in the spring as to what the snow pack is in the mountains and what the risk of flooding is because we will not remove those bags until after June, we won't remove them prior to the end of June if the risk of flooding is too high," Snodgrass says. "We will always protect this town first and foremost."

He says the town won't be pressured to remove them because they're an inconvenience, he acknowledges that, but says he lives in that area too and for now it is what it is.