Forecasting Flooding in Stephenville

Forecasting Flooding in Stephenville

The Town of Stephenville, like many communities in Newfoundland and Labrador, has a history of flooding. The town experienced a major flood in 2005, which caused significant damage to homes, property and town infrastructure.

In response to this event, an innovative approach was taken to improve community development. Specifically, the community flood risk map was updated to ensure Town officials had the best tools to avoid or minimize the potential damage from a future flood. While these maps are typically developed using historical data, the map developers also looked to the future and incorporated climate change predictions right into the map. This was the first time such an approach was used in Newfoundland and Labrador. This approach has since been replicated in other areas of the province such as Portugal Cove-St Phillip's, and, at present, work is underway to develop and update flood risk maps for other communities.