Hay River’s new strategic plan takes focus on sustainable responses to climate change : My True North Now

As part of their new three year strategic plan, Hay River leadership is looking to implement sustainable practices focussed on responding to climate change. Glenn Smith, the town’s senior administrative officer, explained that the community has seen an increase in significant climate events like flooding, drought and wildfires especially in the last few years.

In response, Hay River leadership has built in a climate adaptation plan as part of the strategic plan, he told True North FM.

Smith said that some of the mitigation work is already in place with the West Channel Berm enhancements project, the Airport Road Raising and work about to begin on storm system backflow prevention.

“A lot of other major asset replacements considered under that as well, such as a new water treatment plant, that’s needed and installed with management facility,” added Smith.

While looking to the future, looking back at infrastructure damaged in the past due to flooding is another that community leadership has had to focus on addressing.

“We’re also underway right now with our Lift Station, one enhancement project, which is repairing damages that occurred from the 2022 flood, but it will be built to ensure that the effects of damage does not occur in the future,” said Smith.

Smith pointed out that the community is dealing with the dual challenge low water levels along with flooding.

“We’re also now already on the early stages about the updating, our flood zone, development standard – so recognising that new data has come through with flood inundation events such as the 2022, where we produce new flood maps. And so we want to incorporate those maps into our development standard to help reduce risks of damages in the future, throughout areas of the community,” he added. 

Smith added the new plan is exploring renewable energy that will reduce reliance on nonrenewable resources.

With the region have experienced a five year drought and historically low water levels, leadership has also looked at alternative sources of power that don’t rely on water levels.

As part of the plan’s three year vision, Hay River leadership is pursuing a district biomass heating system project that has been in the works for some time, explained Smith. At this stage of the project, Smith says it’s just a matter of finding the right partners and funding.

“A district biomass cleaning system would replace what we currently use, propane, here for a heating source for our main municipal buildings downtown,” said Smith.

The use of biomass heating would not only reduce the carbon footprint but would also reduce the cost of heat, added Smith.

Smith emphasized that building a sustainable community is one of the main areas of focus, part of that is recognizing the role of climate change.

“A sustainable community is one that focuses on a climate adaptation, recognising the impact of what we’ve seen with both floods and wildfire, how we build better stronger, infrastructure and assets in the community, that are more resilient to these changes that we’re seeing.”

The town of Hay River also saw key elements of their three-year strategic plan in action earlier this month when, together with Deh Gáh Got’ı̨ę First Nation and the Kátł’odeeche First Nation, they hosted Fort Providence evacuees.

“The town has done extensive work on climate resilience and response planning in recent years, which has been constantly being tested out due to multiple wildfires, droughts and flooding that Hay River has faced,” he said.

“We have very strong leadership here at the town of Hay River that’s had a lot of experience in emergencies. I mean, unfortunately, over the last two years, there have been multiple evacuations from fire or flooding,” he added.