Adapting to Climate Change:
Flooding
Grand Bay - Westfield New Brunswick
Figure 1: Location of Grand Bay - Westfield on New
Brunswick map
The Area
Grand Bay-Westfield (pop. 5117 in 2011) is comprised
of the former Town of Grand Bay and the former
Village of Westfield. Although located inland on the
western shore of the St. John River, it is influenced by
the cool waters of the Bay of Fundy. The St. John
River, as it passes the town, has a significant tide.
Originally settled by United Empire Loyalists in 1783,
the area now acts as a service centre to several small
and rural communities and is in close proximity to
Saint John.
Climate Change and
Community Vulnerability
Grand Bay–Westfield is experiencing many of the
climate changes seen elsewhere in southern New
Brunswick, including rising temperatures, increased
annual precipitation, less snowfall, extreme rainfall
events and warmer winters. Residents describe much
stronger winds, more intense storms and rainfalls and
shorter winters that start later and bring much less
snow. River ice forms later, breaks up earlier and is
much thinner than it used to be. Extra sediment
carried by runoff is making river bottoms muddier and
filling in some coves.
Since the 1920s, sea levels in the area have riser 23.5
cm. River levels are much higher than they used to be
and heavy rains are triggering flash flooding, eroding
banks, overflowing ditches, washing out roads and
damaging properties.
More intense rains are
increasing localized flooding, creating potential
problems for municipal infrastructure.
Local Climate Change
Adaptation to Date
Because of its history of flooding, the Town has an
Emergency Response Plan and has developed
detailed plans to deal with more serious floods and
storms. These plans are regularly updated. The Town
works with the provincial Emergency Measures
Organization to notify residents of potential flooding.
The Town also conducts regular inspections of its
drainage systems to ensure they are clear and in good
repair.
In 2012, Grand Bay-Westfield was part of a pilot
project along with Saint John, Rothesay and
Quispamsis to participate in a flood risk assessment
workbook.
A workshop facilitator introduced
participants to a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)
based wet areas map. The Wet Areas Mapping
(WAM) system used the detailed elevation maps
produced with LiDAR data to identify the corridors
along which flooding would occur under varying
conditions. The WAM-produced wet areas map made
it much easier for people to visualize potential flood
risks.
Grand Bay–Westfield’s Planning Advisory Committee
and Public Works Department now use the wet areas
map to support their decisions. The map it also
helping other people understand the potential
constraints of specific properties. The Town will also
be able to use the map to determine what effect a
high water level will have on the local landscape.
Next Steps and Opportunities
Grand Bay-Westfield town staff have provided an indepth demonstration of the LiDAR-generated wet
area map to Town Council. Expansion of LiDAR use
could include: providing information for drainage
infrastructure maintenance and upgrades by
identifying problematic culverts and locations where
new storm sewers are required. When the Town is
planning its development control measure, it could
use the wet areas map to help decide where building
setbacks need to be increased or where development
should be limited or revised.
The Emergency Management Committee plans to use
the LiDAR wet areas map to model emergency flood
scenarios for preparedness training. The Committee
also plans to approach the provincial Emergency
Measures Organization (EMO) to arrange for the use
of an emergency radio channel to broadcast flooding
information when electricity is lost and residents are
unable to access EMO’s website or other news
outlets.
The Town of Grand Bay-Westfield is conscious of the
need to develop an in-house public education
program to inform residents about the risks of
flooding in their community. The Town intends to
make greater use of resources available through the
provincial Department of Environment and Local
Government as well as LiDAR modelling tools like
WAM.
For More Information
Town of Grand Bay–Westfield
609 River Valley Drive, P. O. Box 3001
Grand Bay – Westfield, NB E5K 4V3
Phone: (506) 738-6400 Fax: (506) 738-6424
Website: www.town.grandbay-westfield.nb.ca
Climate Change Secretariat New Brunswick
Department of Environment and Local
Government
P.O Box 6000, Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1 Tel:
(506) 457-4844 Email: env-info@gnb.ca