This toolkit provides step-by-step guidance, templates and examples to help municipalities reduce flood risks, protect infrastructure and build community resilience using practical, nature-based solutions.
Why building flood resilience matters
Flooding is Canada’s most common and costly natural disaster, and it is getting worse.
Flooding occurs when rivers overflow, stormwater overwhelms local drainage or coastal waters rise above normal levels. Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heavy rainfall, snowmelt and storm surges, creating unpredictable flood events. Small and rural communities face unique challenges due to limited infrastructure, single-access roads, aging water systems and high costs of recovery.
Activities that reduce flood risk in small communities
Flood resilience is achievable through practical, community-driven solutions that reduce risk and strengthen local capacity. Nature-based solutions can reduce flooding and enhance ecosystem function by working with local hydrology rather than relying solely on engineered solutions.
Explore practical, on-the-ground activities your community can implement:
Wetland restoration or construction projects – Temporarily store floodwaters, improve water quality and support biodiversity
Stormwater ponds – Control runoff and reduce downstream flooding while providing potential recreation space
Permeable pavements – Allow stormwater infiltration, reduce ponding and lessen stress on drainage systems
Bioswales – Redirect runoff from streets or impervious surfaces, reducing the risk of localized flooding
Floodplain rehabilitation projects – Restore a river's natural connection to its floodplain and allow the landscape to safely absorb and slowly release excess water during high-flow events, reducing downstream flood risks
Principles of effective flood adaptation projects
- Prioritize nature-based solutions as adaptable, scalable approaches to managing flood risk in communities across Canada
- Collaborate with Indigenous communities, local landowners, farmers, and other local networks to pool knowledge, resources and maintenance capacity
- Prioritize low-cost, small-scale interventions in flood-prone residential areas
Combine structural measures with community education to maximize resilience
How flood projects strengthen communities
What your community can gain:
- Health safeguards for vulnerable residents: Protects residents who are disproportionately impacted by flooding (including older adults, Indigenous Peoples and precariously housed residents), who often face barriers to evacuation and recovery
- Economic resilience: Reduces recovery costs and long-term economic impacts by preventing damage to property, infrastructure and local economies
- Enhanced community wellness: Supports ecosystem health, water quality and recreational opportunities
Tools and templates to plan your flood resilience project
Once you’ve identified the right project for your community, use these ready-to-go templates to plan, budget and implement it:
Flood resilience workplan template: Step-by-step planning and timeline tool for your project
Flood resilience RFP template: Editable request for proposal to engage consultant support for your project
Flood resilience budget template: Multi-project Excel workbook
Impact mapping tool: Outcome and co-benefit identification tool
Download and adapt these tools, which include step-by-step guidance pre-populated to support flood resilience planning and implementation.
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