Sackville rivers floodplain study
At a glance
GHD was engaged by the Halifax Regional Municipality in Canada to update floodplain maps of the Sackville River and Little Sackville River.
The impact
Historically, flood-related risks within the lower reaches of the Sackville River in Nova Scotia, Canada, have been a significant issue. Continued urbanization and changing climate have been contributing to the increasing frequency of flooding in the watershed.
A historical review of flooding factors identified the major processes that cause flood events in the watershed. Extreme rainfall events that have affected the watershed were analyzed to characterize the hydrologic response of the watershed. GHD performed a non-stationary frequency analysis to account for trends in streamflow and sea level due to climate change. Joint probability analysis investigated the relationship between floods and sea level. Hydraulic modelling was used to determine areas prone to flooding and/or impacted by rising sea level.