Flooding is a natural process that is a necessary component to the survival and health of many types of ecosystems. The processes and conditions that result in floods are often predictable and usually occur in the same areas, known as floodplains. Unfortunately people are often drawn to inhabit and develop in floodplains as this is usually flat, fertile land. Because of this, floods are one of the most common natural hazards in Newfoundland and Labrador and are often the most costly. Floods can cause considerable damage to property and infrastructure, threaten human lives and cost millions in emergency assistance, clean-up and remediation.
Flooding and erosion processes are quite difficult to control and avoid. As such, the best and most cost effective method of minimizing their impact is proper management and planning of known floodplains. Floodplain management usually involves the adoption of land use regulations that limit human exposure to areas prone to flooding events. For more information on the Government’s approach to management of identified flood zones see the Newfoundland And Labrador Provincial Land Use Policy On Flood Risk Areas.
The Province, in conjunction with the federal government, has worked to reduce the human hardship and economic loss of floods through the Canada-Newfoundland Flood Damage Reduction Program (CNFDRP). Work under this program was carried out from 1981 to 1993. From 1993 to 1996 further flood studies were carried out under the federal-provincial "General Agreement Respecting Water Resource Management". This was a comprehensive agreement that included along with Flood Damage Reduction Program, groundwater management, watershed and water quality management, flow forecasting systems, water conservation economic, estuary and aquaculture management studies.
Work under the CNFDRP consisted of undertaking hydrotechnical studies, identifying and mapping flood risk zones and then implementing policies to limit future flood susceptible development in those areas. Flood risk areas are usually subdivided into two zones – the floodway and the flood fringe. The floodway is the portion of the floodplain where the risk of flooding is greatest and flood waters are deepest and most destructive. The outer portion of the flood zone, the flood fringe, is the area where the risk of flooding is lower and water is generally slower and less hazardous than the floodway. For more information, visit the federal government Flood Damage Reduction Program site.
Flood Risk mapping in Newfoundland and Labrador delineates the floodway as zones where floods have a return period of 20 years (5% chance in any year) and the flood fringe where the risk of flooding is once in 100 years (1% chance in any year). Flood risk areas have been mapped for 38 communities in the Province. These maps are used for public information, municipal planning, development control, and the setting of structural design criteria. All proposed developments in flood risk zones are evaluated against potential impacts on water resources, the structures themselves, and the surrounding areas.
To help support climate change adaptation, these flood risk mapping studies are being updated and new ones undertaken using climate change projections. This initiative is important for public safety and information, municipal and development planning, setting of structural design criteria, and flood response. This mapping will assist in regulating new developments in flood-prone areas, help minimize flood damage to properties and the environment, and restrict activities that could degrade water resources. A brochure is available outlining Government’s New Template for Climate Change Flood Risk Mapping.
The table below contains all the studies and mapping associated with flood risk mapping in the Province. This includes:
The information below consists of 580Mb of data with over 300 Adobe pdf, Jpg, and Tif files. These files contain scanned reports and associated maps and figures. Some map files can be quite large as the original maps were 60cmx90cm or larger.
All of the links below have been tested and if a file won't show on your computer try clicking the Refresh button on your browser. Otherwise, you can right-click on any link and select "Save Target As" to download a copy of the file to your computer for offline viewing.
|
Study Area / Report Title |
Date |
|---|---|
|
Hydrotechnical Study of the Badger and Rushy Pond Areas Volume 2: Technical Appendices
Mapping: Badger AutoCad DWG Public Information Map Small Large PDF Rushy Pond AutoCad under review Public Information Map Small Large PDF
|
1985/07 |
|
Volume 2: Technical Appendices
Mapping: Bishop's Falls AutoCad under review Public Information Map Small Large PDF |
1990/11 |
|
Brigus - Hydrotechnical report is not available
Mapping: Brigus AutoCad not available Public Information Map Small Large PDF |
|
|
Volume
2: Technical Appendices
Mapping: Codroy Valley AutoCad under review Public Information Map Small Large PDF |
1990/02 |
|
Flood Risk Mapping Study of the Conception Bay Area - Carbonear, Victoria, Salmon Cove, Whitbourne, Heart's Delight, Winterton, Hant's Harbour Volume 2: Technical Appendices Figure 3_2.jpg Figure 3_3.jpg Figure 3_4.jpg Figure 3_5.jpg Figure 3_6.jpg Figure 3_7.jpg Figure 3_8.jpg Figure 3_9.jpg Figure 4_2.jpg Figure 4_3.jpg Figure 4_4.jpg Figure 4_5.jpg Figure 4_6.jpg Figure 5_4.jpg Figure 5_5.jpg Figure 5_6.jpg Figure 5_7.jpg Figure 5_8.jpg Figure 5_9.jpg Figure 5_10.jpg
Mapping: Carbonear AutoCad under review Public Information Map Small Large PDF Victoria AutoCad DWG Public Information Map Small Large PDF Salmon Cove AutoCad DWG Public Information Map Small Large PDF Whitbourne AutoCad DWG Public Information Map Small Large PDF Heart's Delight AutoCad DWG Public Information Map Small Large PDF Winterton AutoCad DWG Public Information Map Small Large PDF Hant's Harbour AutoCad DWG Public Information Map Small Large PDF |
1996/03 |
|
Historical Flooding Review and Flood Risk Mapping Study for Cox's Cove Mapping: Cox's Cove AutoCad DWG Public Information Map Small Large PDF |
1988/12 |
|
Hydrotechnical Study of the Deer Lake Area Volume 2: Physical Surveys and Field Program Figure 1_2.jpg Figure 2_1.jpg Figure 3_1.jpg Figure 4_2.jpg Figure 4_5.jpg Figure 5_1.jpg Figure B_12.jpg Figure B_13.jpg
Mapping: Deer Lake AutoCad not available Public Information Map Small Large PDF |
1987/08 |
|
Glenwood-Appleton Flood Study Report Bridge Schematic 1.TIF Bridge Schematic 2.TIF
Mapping: Glenwood-Appleton
AutoCad
under review |
1989/11 |
|
Glovertown Flood Study Report Drawing1.TIF Drawing2.TIF Drawing3.TIF
Mapping: Glovertown AutoCad under review Public Information Map Small Large PDF |
1989/11 |
|
Flood Risk Mapping Study of Goulds, Petty Harbour and Ferryland Volume 2: Technical Appendices Figure 1.jpg
Mapping: Goulds AutoCad not available Public Information Map Not available Petty Harbour AutoCad DWG Public Information Map Small Large PDF Ferryland AutoCad DWG Public Information Map Small Large PDF |
1996/03 |
|
Hydrotechnical Study of the Placentia Area Flood Plain Vol1_Figure 5_2_1.jpg Vol1_Figure 5_2_2.jpg Vol1_Figure 5_3_1.jpg Vol1_Figure 5_3_2.jpg Vol1_ Figure 5_4_1.jpg Vol1_Figure 5_5_1.jpg Vol1_Figure 6_3_1.jpg Vol1_ Figure 7_4_1.jpg Vol1_Table 8_3_1.jpg Vol1_Figure 10_2_1.jpg Vol2_Figure2.jpg Vol2_Drawing1.TIF Vol2_Drawing2.TIF Vol2_Drawing4.TIF
Mapping: Placentia AutoCad not available Public Information Map Small Large PDF
Assessment of the Effects of Development in the Bruley Area of Placentia (1987) Figure SK_1.jpg Figure SK_2.jpg
Report on Reassessment of Economic Analysis for Flood Control Measures in Placentia (1988)
Report on Raising of Brestwork Along Riverside Drive in Placentia (1988) |
1985/04 |
|
Historical Flooding Review and Flood Risk Mapping Study for Parson's Pond
Mapping: Parson's Pond AutoCad DWG Public Information Map Small Large PDF |
1988/12 |
|
Flood Risk Mapping Study of Portugal Cove, St. Philips and Outer Cove Volume 2: Technical Appendices
Mapping: Portugal Cove, St. Philips AutoCad DWG Public Information Map Small Large PDF Outer Cove AutoCad DWG Public Information Map Small Large PDF |
1996/03 |
|
Rushoon Flood Study Report Hydrotechnical Study- Field Report (1985)
Vol1_Figure 1_1.jpg Vol1_Figure 2_1.jpg Vol1_ Figure 2_5.jpg Vol1_ Figure 2_6.jpg Vol1_Figure 3_1.jpg Vol1_Figure 4_5.jpg Vol1_Figure 4_6.jpg Vol1_Figure 4_7.jpg Vol1_Figure 5_2.jpg Vol1_Figure 6_1.jpg Vol1_Figure 6_2.jpg Vol1_Figure 6_3.jpg Vol1_ Figure 6_4.jpg Vol1_Figure 6_5.jpg Vol1_Figure 6_6.jpg Vol2_FigureIII_1.jpg
Mapping: Rushoon AutoCad DWG Public Information Map Small Large PDF
Rushoon Supplementary Report (1987)
|
1986/06 |
|
Hydrotechnical Study of the Steady Brook Area Volume 2: Technical Appendices Vol1_Figure 1_2.jpg Vol1_Figure 2_1.jpg Vol1_Figure 2_2.jpg Vol1_Figure 2_3.jpg Vol1_Figure 2_4.jpg Vol1_Figure 3_2.jpg Vol1_Figure 3_6.jpg Vol1_Figure 4_3.jpg Vol1_Figure 4_4.jpg Vol1_Figure 4_5.jpg Vol1_Figure 4_6.jpg Vol1_Figure 4_7.jpg Vol1_Figure 4_8.jpg Vol1_Figure 4_9.jpg Vol1_Figure 5_1.jpg Vol1_Figure B_16.jpg Vol2_Figure 1.jpg Vol2_Figure 2.jpg Vol2_Figure A_1.jpg Vol2_Figure F_2.jpg
Mapping: Steady Brook AutoCad not available Public Information Map Small Large PDF
Study of Possible Remedial Measures for the Steady Brook Area (1986) |
1984/10 |
|
An Evaluation of Flooding in Stephenville, Newfoundland Volume 2: Technical Appendices Figure 24.jpg
Figure 27 .jpg
Figure 28.jpg |
1975/12 |
|
Hydrotechnical Study of the Stephenville Area Volume 2: Technical Appendices Figure 2_1.pdf Figure 4_3.pdf Figure 4_4.pdf |
1984/02 |
|
Flood Risk Mapping Study of Stephenville, Kippens and Cold Brook Volume 2: Technical Appendices Figure 5_2.TIF Figure 5_3.TIF Figure 5_4.TIF Figure 5_5.TIF Figure 5_6.TIF Figure 5_7.TIF
Mapping: Cold Brook AutoCad DWG Public Information Map Small Large PDF Stephenville,
Kippens AutoCad
DWG (2005) |
1996/05 |
|
Hydrotechnical Study of Stephenville Mapping: Stephenville and Cold Brook ESRI GIS Shape file AutoCad DWG
Public Information Maps
|
2009/03 |
|
Hydrotechnical Study of the Stephenville Crossing And Black Duck Siding Area Volume
2: Technical Appendices
Main_Report_Figure_12-6_Page_153.jpg
Mapping: Stephenville
Crossing And Black Duck Siding AutoCad
under review |
1988/05 |
|
Flood Risk Mapping Study of Trinity South Area Volume 1: Main Report and Appendices
Mapping: Shoal
Harbour
AutoCad
DWG and Hodges
Cove AutoCad
DWG Hickmans
Harbour
AutoCad
DWG Public Information Map Small
Large
PDF |
1995/04 |
|
Flood Risk Mapping Study of the Trout River Area Volume 2: Technical Appendices Background Data and Survey and Monitoring Report
Mapping: Trout River AutoCad not available Public Information Map Small Large PDF |
1990/05 |
|
Hydrotechnical Study of the Waterford River Area Volume 2: Technical Appendices
Mapping: Waterford AutoCad not available Public Information Map Small Large PDF |
1988/06 |
