Flood-Prone Fredericton: Why The Constant Crisis?

Fredericton, New Brunswick, has a history of flooding, with rising water levels impacting roads, parking lots, homes, and businesses. The city's geography, including its proximity to the St. John River, makes it particularly vulnerable to flooding events. In addition, climate change, rising sea levels, and more frequent and intense storms contribute to the increased risk of flooding in the region. To mitigate the impact of flooding, Fredericton has implemented various measures, including the use of berms and the development of flood maps to help residents and landowners make informed decisions and reduce risks.

Fredericton's flood-prone areas

Frederictons' flood-prone areas

Flooding in Fredericton, New Brunswick, is a frequent occurrence, with the city experiencing multiple instances of flooding in recent years. The city's location in a flood-prone area, combined with the impacts of climate change, contributes to this problem.

In April 2018, Fredericton faced significant flooding, with around three dozen city streets and nearly 20 highway or rural road closures in the region. The Fredericton area was hit the hardest, with water levels along the St. John River reaching approximately eight meters. The situation caused considerable disruption to transportation, with road closures and parking lot flooding making commutes challenging. The city encouraged residents to leave their cars at home and offered free bus rides and park-and-ride shuttle services to help manage the situation.

The lower St. John River is particularly susceptible to flooding, and in April 2023, it rose to levels that triggered flooding in Fredericton, Gagetown, and Hartland. The river breached its banks, and firefighters went door-to-door to check on residents in areas frequently affected by flooding. Dwayne Killingbeck, the Fredericton fire chief, advised residents to exercise caution near the shore due to fast-moving water and floating debris.

New Brunswick has developed comprehensive flood-mapping websites and tools to help residents, buyers, and planners make informed decisions and reduce flood risks. These resources provide valuable data on anticipated flood frequency, depth, and width for specific locations. However, the lack of mandatory requirements to assess flood risk before building or purchasing a home remains a concern.

The combination of rising sea levels, violent storms, hurricanes, ice jams, and erosion exacerbates the vulnerability of Fredericton and other areas in New Brunswick to flooding. The province has incurred substantial costs due to natural disasters, with over $380 million spent on disaster financial assistance over the past decade.

Rising sea levels

The consequences of rising sea levels are far-reaching and impact coastal communities, ecosystems, and economies. New Brunswick, in particular, is vulnerable to rising sea levels due to the sinking of the coastal Maritimes caused by falling land levels. This, combined with the global rise in sea levels, poses a significant threat to the region.

The impact of rising sea levels is already being felt along the coasts, with an increase in coastal flooding and high-tide flooding. These events can have devastating effects on infrastructure, tourism, ecosystems, and agriculture. For example, the number of high-tide flooding days in Atlantic City has increased from less than one per year in the 1950s to an average of eight per year in the 2000s.

The rate of sea level rise is expected to continue accelerating until 2050 due to the warming that has already occurred. The future trajectory of sea level rise depends on human actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. If significant emissions reductions are achieved, the rate of sea level rise may slow down after 2050. However, without sharp reductions, the impact of rising sea levels will be devastating. By 2100, tens to hundreds of millions of people are projected to be at risk of annual flooding.

To address the challenges posed by rising sea levels, societies can adapt in multiple ways. These adaptations can be categorized as hard approaches, such as seawalls, or soft approaches, such as dune rehabilitation. Additionally, resilience planning at the state and local levels is crucial to prepare for the impacts of rising sea levels and protect vulnerable communities.

Climate change

Fredericton, the capital city of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, has a warm-summer humid continental climate. The city experiences high humidity and precipitation year-round, with an average of 1,100 mm of precipitation annually. Fredericton's climate is characterised by short, warm summers and long, cold winters.

New Brunswick is witnessing the impacts of climate change, with rising temperatures, increased rainfall, more severe storms, and rising sea levels. The province has experienced various natural disasters, including flooding, hurricanes, ice jams, and erosion, causing financial losses and insured damage.

New Brunswick has developed flood hazard maps to help residents, buyers, and contractors identify flood-prone areas. However, there are no mandatory requirements to use these maps before building or purchasing a home.

To mitigate climate change, it is crucial to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. New Brunswick has implemented initiatives such as the Climate Change Action Plan 2022-2027, which outlines actions to create a more sustainable, affordable, and resilient future for the province.

Ice jams

Predicting and mitigating ice jams is crucial to minimising their impact. Early warning systems include trained observers and ice motion detectors. Prevention methods include weakening the ice before break-up by cutting or drilling holes, dusting it with dark-coloured sand, or controlling the timing of break-up using ice breakers or other equipment.

Flooding impact on wildlife

Flooding can have a devastating impact on wildlife, and the ecosystems they support may take years or even decades to recover. The Somerset Levels in the UK, for example, experienced severe flooding, and the cost to wildlife only became apparent as the waters started to recede.

The flooding in Somerset caused the deaths of many birds, mammals, fish, insects, and invertebrates. Conservationists reported that hundreds of seabirds washed up on the south coast, and 250 seals drowned. The Cornwall Wildlife Trust reported that dozens of seal pups were washed up on beaches. The flooding also damaged 48 of the UK's most important wildlife sites, including those of special scientific interest and national nature reserves.

The impact of flooding on wildlife can be far-reaching and vary depending on the habitat and the species involved. For example, hibernating animals are often the worst affected by flooding, as they are unable to escape the rising waters. Moles and field voles, for instance, will drown if the flooding is rapid.

Flooding can also cause soil erosion, carrying away bug-rich topsoil and reducing the food sources for insects and birds. It can also lead to the decomposition of plants, creating anoxic conditions that can suffocate worms and other insects.

In addition, flooding can alter the natural cycles of habitats, impacting the food sources and breeding patterns of wildlife. For example, otters in the Lugg River in the UK were forced into areas with less cover due to flooding and were killed on roads. Kingfisher nests, normally built into muddy riverbanks, were also submerged during flooding events.

The impact of flooding on wildlife is complex and far-reaching, and it is essential to consider these effects when assessing the risks and consequences of flooding events.

Frequently asked questions