LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESOURCES
This page brings together information, shared learning, and resources relevant to local governments working on flood resilience in the Lower Fraser. It includes themes emerging from regional dialogues, links to reports and reference materials, and information that may support collaboration across jurisdictions.
Message from Our Local Government Representative
"Message from Jason
Key message for Local Gov here"
Jason Lum, City Councillor, City of Chilliwack
Local governments need sustainable funding
A consistent theme has been the need for predictable, long-term investment.
Many communities continue to face pressure from aging flood infrastructure, growing climate risks, and funding systems that are often competitive, fragmented, or tied to short-term program windows.
Local governments have emphasized the need for funding models that support implementation at the scale of the challenge.
Local governments want clearer support for collaboration
Local governments have raised interest in clearer processes and stronger support for working across jurisdictions, including with First Nations, senior governments, and neighbouring communities.
Early coordination is often seen as important for improving project readiness, reducing uncertainty, and supporting stronger outcomes.
Local governments are looking for shared learning and practical examples
There is growing interest in learning from pilot projects, case studies, and regional examples that can help communities test and advance new approaches.
Forum discussions have highlighted interest in shared learning around flood mitigation options, watershed-based planning, and practical multi-benefit projects.
Local governments are asking for stronger coordination, practical implementation tools, sustained funding, and a clearer pathway to reduce flood risk across the floodplain.
This resource page is intended to support that.
Local governments across the Lower Fraser have consistently emphasized that flood resilience requires stronger coordination, practical implementation tools, and sustained investment.
Through regional forums, dialogues, and collaborative planning processes, several common themes have emerged.
Local governments want coordinated regional planning
Flood risks do not stop at municipal boundaries. Local governments have emphasized the need for approaches that recognize shared flood risks across jurisdictions and support coordination at a regional scale.
Many have raised that fragmented responsibilities, siloed decision-making, and inconsistent capacity can make it difficult to advance effective long-term solutions.
Local governments need practical pathways to implementation
Communities have expressed interest in moving beyond high-level strategies toward practical implementation — including tools, technical support, and project development pathways that can help move multi-benefit solutions forward.
There is strong interest in approaches that combine infrastructure upgrades, watershed-scale planning, and nature-based or hybrid solutions.
What We’ve Heard from Local Governments
More efficient implementation
Early coordination can help reduce duplication, improve sequencing, and address issues before they create delays later in project development.
Working collaboratively can support smoother implementation where multiple governments, agencies, or rights holders are involved.
Better outcomes through multi-benefit solutions
Collaboration can help support projects that reduce flood risk while also advancing ecological resilience, reconciliation, and community well-being.
Forum discussions have highlighted growing interest in approaches that combine infrastructure upgrades with watershed-scale and nature-based solutions.
Shared learning and technical support
Collaboration creates opportunities for peer learning, shared technical understanding, and testing new approaches.
Regional forums have helped surface practical examples, lessons learned, and emerging opportunities communities may not advance alone.
Collaboration is not an end in itself.
It is a practical tool for reducing fragmentation, improving implementation, and supporting better outcomes across the floodplain.
Collaboration can support more effective planning, stronger implementation, and better outcomes for communities managing shared flood risks.
In a connected floodplain, flood risk, infrastructure systems, waterways, and ecological systems cross jurisdictional boundaries. Many challenges cannot be effectively addressed by one government acting alone.
Better coordination for shared risks
Flooding does not follow municipal boundaries. Collaboration can help communities better coordinate responses to shared risks, align priorities, and identify solutions at the scale of the watershed.
This can be especially important where interdependencies exist between dikes, drainage systems, transportation corridors, habitat, and neighbouring jurisdictions.
Stronger projects and funding readiness
Many funding programs increasingly prioritize projects that demonstrate multiple benefits, partnerships, and regional coordination.
Collaborative approaches may strengthen project development, improve readiness, and support access to funding for larger or more complex initiatives.
Why Collaboration Helps Local Governments
This Page Will Have
Video and Welcome from Jason Lum?
Resources for Local Gov
Reports and info
Technical Reginal info/databases/Maps
OTHER?
