Abstract: Flood studies include detailed engineering reports and flood maps. The engineering reports are typically technical in nature and document the data, assumptions, and results of the hydrologic and hydraulic analyses required to create flood maps. Flood maps are created by combining hydraulic model results for different sized floods with high-accuracy ground information. Flood maps identify where water will flow during a flood, and what land could be flooded during different sized floods. Most flood maps focus on floods caused by high river flows when water escapes the river channel, most often experienced in spring or following summer rainstorms, but they can also show areas at risk from ice jam floods or document the extent of historic floods.Flood inundation maps show areas at risk for different sized floods, including ice jam floods in some communities, and identify areas protected by flood berms. Because they map a wide range of floods, they are most often used for emergency response planning and to inform local infrastructure design. Flood hazard maps define floodway and flood fringe areas for the 1:100 design flood and are typically used by communities for planning or to help make local land use and development decisions. The floodway is the portion of the flood hazard area where flows are deepest, fastest and most destructive. The flood fringe is the portion of the flood hazard area outside of the floodway, where flood water is generally shallower and flows slower than in the floodway. High hazard flood fringe is the area within the flood fringe with deeper or faster moving water than the rest of the flood fringe. Protected flood fringe identifies areas that could be flooded if dedicated flood berms fail or do not work as designed during the 1:100 design flood. Flood hazard maps define floodway and flood fringe areas for the 1:100 design flood and are typically used by communities for planning or to help make local land use and development decisions. Flood hazard maps can also illustrate additional information for communities to consider, including incremental areas at risk for floods larger than the 1:100 design flood, such as the 1:200 and 1:500 floods.Visit www.floodhazard.alberta.ca for more information about the Flood Hazard Identification Program. The website includes different sections for final flood studies and for draft flood studies. Flood maps can be viewed directly using the Flood Awareness Map Application at https://floods.alberta.ca/. The Alberta Flood Mapping GIS dataset is updated when new information is available or existing information changes; therefore, the Government of Alberta assumes no responsibility for discrepancies at the time of use. Users should check https://geodiscover.alberta.ca/ to verify they have the most recent version of the Alberta Flood Mapping GIS dataset.
Metadata: 
  File identifier: 
      2AE32B0D-C6F9-4E1B-81AB-6FDECC728E28
  Language: 
    Language Code: 
      eng
  Character set: 
    Character set code: 
      utf8
  Hierarchy level: 
    Scope code: 
      dataset
  Metadata author: 
    Responsible party: 
      Organisation name: 
          Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, Government of Alberta
      Position name: 
          River Engineering and Technical Services
      Contact info: 
        Contact: 
          Phone: 
            Telephone: 
              Voice: 
                  7804051388
          Address: 
            Address: 
              Delivery point: 
                  11th Floor, Oxbridge Place
              Delivery point: 
                  9820 - 106 Street NW
              City: 
                  Edmonton
              Administrative area: 
                  Alberta
              Postal code: 
                  T5K 2J6
              Country: 
                Country: 
                  CA
              Electronic mail address: 
                  epa.flood@gov.ab.ca
          Hours of service: 
              08:15 to 16:30 Monday to Friday
      Role: 
        Role code: 
          publisher
  Date stamp: 

      2024-09-23
  Metadata standard name: 
      NAP - Metadata
  Metadata standard version: 
      1.2
▲ Return To Top

Spatial representation info:

Vector spatial representation: Topology level: Topology level code: geometryOnly Geometric objects: Geometric objects: Geometric object type: Geometric object type code: composite Geometric object count: 3584
▲ Return To Top

Reference system info:

Reference system: Reference system identifier: RS Identifier: Code: 3400 Code Space: EPSG Version: 6.11(9.3.0.0)
▲ Return To Top

Identification info:

Data identification: Citation: Citation: Title: Alberta Flood Hazard Identification Program Mapping Alternate title: AB FHIP Date: Date: Date: 2020-10-21 Date type: Date type code: creation Date: Date: Date: 2025-05-15 Date type: Date type code: publication Date: Date: Date: 2025-05-15 Date type: Date type code: revision Cited responsible party: Responsible party: Organisation name: Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, Government of Alberta Position name: River Engineering and Technical Services Contact info: Contact: Phone: Telephone: Voice: 7804051388 Address: Address: Delivery point: 11th Floor, Oxbridge Place Delivery point: 9820 - 106 Street NW City: Edmonton Administrative area: Alberta Postal code: T5K 2J6 Country: Country: CA Electronic mail address: epa.flood@gov.ab.ca Hours of service: 08:15 to 16:30 Monday to Friday Role: Role code: originator Abstract: Flood studies include detailed engineering reports and flood maps. The engineering reports are typically technical in nature and document the data, assumptions, and results of the hydrologic and hydraulic analyses required to create flood maps. Flood maps are created by combining hydraulic model results for different sized floods with high-accuracy ground information. Flood maps identify where water will flow during a flood, and what land could be flooded during different sized floods. Most flood maps focus on floods caused by high river flows when water escapes the river channel, most often experienced in spring or following summer rainstorms, but they can also show areas at risk from ice jam floods or document the extent of historic floods.Flood inundation maps show areas at risk for different sized floods, including ice jam floods in some communities, and identify areas protected by flood berms. Because they map a wide range of floods, they are most often used for emergency response planning and to inform local infrastructure design. Flood hazard maps define floodway and flood fringe areas for the 1:100 design flood and are typically used by communities for planning or to help make local land use and development decisions. The floodway is the portion of the flood hazard area where flows are deepest, fastest and most destructive. The flood fringe is the portion of the flood hazard area outside of the floodway, where flood water is generally shallower and flows slower than in the floodway. High hazard flood fringe is the area within the flood fringe with deeper or faster moving water than the rest of the flood fringe. Protected flood fringe identifies areas that could be flooded if dedicated flood berms fail or do not work as designed during the 1:100 design flood. Flood hazard maps define floodway and flood fringe areas for the 1:100 design flood and are typically used by communities for planning or to help make local land use and development decisions. Flood hazard maps can also illustrate additional information for communities to consider, including incremental areas at risk for floods larger than the 1:100 design flood, such as the 1:200 and 1:500 floods.Visit www.floodhazard.alberta.ca for more information about the Flood Hazard Identification Program. The website includes different sections for final flood studies and for draft flood studies. Flood maps can be viewed directly using the Flood Awareness Map Application at https://floods.alberta.ca/. The Alberta Flood Mapping GIS dataset is updated when new information is available or existing information changes; therefore, the Government of Alberta assumes no responsibility for discrepancies at the time of use. Users should check https://geodiscover.alberta.ca/ to verify they have the most recent version of the Alberta Flood Mapping GIS dataset. Purpose: The potential for flooding exists along all streams and lakes in Alberta. To assist communities in keeping Albertans safe and protecting their properties from floods, the Government of Alberta manages the production of flood studies under the provincial Flood Hazard Identification Program. Provincial flood maps are used by all levels of government, consultants, industry, non-government organizations and the public. Flood maps can inform local land use planning decisions, emergency management operations and sustainable floodplain function initiatives. Flood maps are not available in all communities and flood risks exist in areas without flood mapping. Status: Progress code: completed Point of contact: Responsible party: Organisation name: Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, Government of Alberta Position name: River Engineering and Technical Services Contact info: Contact: Phone: Telephone: Voice: 7804051388 Address: Address: Delivery point: 11th floor, Oxbridge Place Delivery point: 9820 - 106 Street NW City: Edmonton Administrative area: Alberta Postal code: T5K 2J6 Country: Country: CA Electronic mail address: epa.flood@gov.ab.ca Hours of service: 08:15 to 16:30 Monday to Friday Role: Role code: pointOfContact Resource maintenance: Maintenance information: Maintenance and update frequency: Maintenance frequency code: asNeeded Descriptive keywords: Keywords: Keyword: Alberta, Canada Type: Keyword type code: place Descriptive keywords: Keywords: Keyword: Flood studies Keyword: Flood maps Keyword: Floodways Keyword: Flood Hazard Identification Program Type: Keyword type code: theme Resource constraints: Legal constraints: Access constraints: Restriction code: otherRestrictions Other constraints: To access the data you must agree to the terms of the Open Government Licence - Alberta found at https://open.alberta.ca/licence Resource constraints: Legal constraints: Use constraints: Restriction code: license Other constraints: Your use of this information will be governed by the terms of the Open Government Licence - Alberta, in force as of the date you accessed the information, found at https://open.alberta.ca/licence Resource constraints: Legal constraints: Use limitation: Distribution Liability: Under the terms of the Open Government Licence - Alberta, the Information is licensed as is, and the Information Provider excludes all representations, warranties, obligations, and liabilities, whether express or implied, to the maximum extent permitted by law. The Information Provider is not liable for any errors or omissions in the Information, and will not under any circumstances be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential, or other loss, injury or damage caused by its use or otherwise arising in connection with this licence or the Information, even if specifically advised of the possibility of such loss, injury or damage. Resource constraints: Security constraints: Classification: Classification code: unclassified User note: Public/Unrestricted Classification system: Government of Alberta Data and Information Security Classification Handling description: https://imtpolicy.sp.alberta.ca/standards/Pages/Data-and-Information-Security-Classification.aspx Spatial representation type: Spatial representation type code: vector Language: Language Code: eng Character set: Character set code: utf8 Topic category: Topic category code: environment Topic category: Topic category code: inlandWaters Environment description: ArcGIS Pro 3.0.3 Extent: Extent: Geographic element: Geographic bounding box: Extent type code: true West bound longitude: -120 East bound longitude: -110 South bound latitude: 49 North bound latitude: 60 Extent: Extent: Description: Studies span from 1983 to 2023. See Studies table in the spatial data package for specific dates for each study. Temporal element: Temporal extent: Extent: Time period: Begin date: 1983-01-01T00:00:00 End date: 2023-12-31T00:00:00
▲ Return To Top

DISTRIBUTION INFO:

Distribution: Distribution format: Format: Name: File Geodatabase Version: 3.0.3 Specification: FGDB File decompression technique: ZIP Distributor: Distributor: Distributor contact: Responsible party: Organisation name: Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, Government of Alberta Position name: Provincial Geospatial Centre Contact info: Contact: Phone: Telephone: Voice: 7804277374 Facsimile: 7804220712 Address: Address: Delivery point: 14th Floor, Oxbridge Place Delivery point: 9820 - 106 Street NW City: Edmonton Administrative area: Alberta Postal code: T5K 2J6 Country: Country: CA Electronic mail address: PGC.Data@gov.ab.ca Role: Role code: distributor Transfer options: Digital transfer options: Units of distribution: MB Transfer size: 25 Online: Online Resource: Linkage: URL: https://extranet.gov.ab.ca/srd/geodiscover/srd_pub/inlandWaters/ABFloodMapping.zip Protocol: FTP Name: Alberta Flood Mapping (FGDB) Description: FGDB containing Alberta Flood Mapping dataset (ZIP) Function: Online function code: download Transfer options: Digital transfer options: Online: Online Resource: Linkage: URL: https://floods.alberta.ca/ Protocol: HTTPS Name: Flood Awareness Map Application Description: Web viewer for final and draft flood maps Function: Online function code: webService Transfer options: Digital transfer options: Online: Online Resource: Linkage: URL: https://www.alberta.ca/flood-hazard-identification-program Protocol: HTTPS Name: Flood Hazard Identification Program Description: Web page with information on Flood Hazard Identification Program Function: Online function code: information
▲ Return To Top

Data quality info:

Data quality: Scope: Scope: Hierarchy level: Scope code: dataset Lineage: Lineage: Statement: Flood maps are created by combining hydraulic model results with high-accuracy ground information. Older flood studies include maps for as many as three flood scenarios, including the 1:100 flood. Newer studies include maps for as many as thirteen scenarios, from the 1:2 flood to the 1:1000 flood. Flood hazards have not been identified along all rivers or through all communities, and it is important to remember that risk exists in areas without provincial flood maps. Historically, the Flood Hazard Identification Program focused on specific communities and densely populated areas, where the risk to safety and potential for significant flood damage is typically highest. New flood studies can include longer lengths of river and less populated areas, where appropriate. Process step: Process step: Description: Field surveys and LiDAR remote sensing are used to collect river and floodplain elevations, channel cross section data, bridge and culvert information, and flood berm details. A hydrology assessment using recorded and historic flow measurements is typically used to estimate river flows for a wide range of possible open water floods with different chances of occurring each year. When appropriate, an ice jam frequency analysis is undertaken. All this information is used to build a hydraulic model of a river system, which is calibrated using highwater marks and aerial imagery from past floods to ensure that results for the different flood flows being mapped are reasonable. Date and time: 2024-09-23T00:00:00 Processor: Responsible party: Organisation name: Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, Government of Alberta Position name: River Engineering and Technical Services Contact info: Contact: Phone: Telephone: Voice: 7804051388 Address: Address: Delivery point: 11th floor, Oxbridge Place, 9820 - 106 Street NW City: Edmonton Administrative area: Alberta Postal code: T5K 2J6 Electronic mail address: epa.flood@gov.ab.ca Hours of service: 08:15 to 16:30 Monday to Friday Role: Role code: processor
▲ Return To Top

Metadata maintenance:

Maintenance information: Maintenance and update frequency: Maintenance frequency code: asNeeded
▲ Return To Top