Two summer flood events in the County of Barrhead resulted in more than $87,000 in damages, about $71,000 of which was an unbudgeted cost to the municipality.
That’s according to a report from the county manager, presented to and accepted by council during its regularly scheduled meeting on Aug. 18.
The county experienced two heavy rainfall events this summer: one over June 21-26 and one over July 2-9, both of which resulted in overland flooding.
County officials say about 70 per cent of the county’s accumulated year-to-date (YTD) rainfall fell in June and July. The region’s historical average for YTD rainfall was 383.5 mm, but this year it reached 570.7 mm, with 289.6 mm recorded in June and 108.2 mm in July.
Over these two events, the county says infrastructure was damaged in 28 separate locations. The table below outlines locations where a county response was required.
Barrhead County locations where damage occurred following excessive rainfall in June and July 2026. (County of Barrhead/Aug. 18 Council Agenda)
It is also estimated that seven private properties in the Idle Hours subdivision were impacted, along with three in the White Rock subdivision, three in Moonlight Bay Estates and some residential structures at the Sunny Beach Campground.
The county estimates the following costs as a result of the damages to municipally-owned infrastructure:
Estimated damage costs following excessive rainfall in June and July 2026. (County of Barrhead/Aug. 18 Council Agenda)
With a minimum damage cost requirement of $255,250, the county did not quality for funding under the Provincial Hazard Assistance and Resilience Program (HARP) to assist with these costs.
As a result, the unbudgeted costs of $71,261.92 may be taken from the Unrestricted Reserve, Disaster Reserve or Unrestricted Surplus at the end of the fiscal year, pending other funding considerations.
—
Related:
