To date, the Province of British Columbia has committed $76.6 million to flood mitigation efforts in Abbotsford, including Barrowtown upgrades. But securing federal funding and cross-border solutions remains an ongoing priority. BUILDING FOR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY Flood recovery is just one element of Abbotsford’s long-term planning. The city’s Official Community Plan emphasizes containing growth within existing urban boundaries while encouraging density and sustainable development. “We’re developing a Climate Resiliency Strategy to protect natural ecosystems, reduce emissions, and adapt to future climate challenges,” Siemens explains. Initiatives include transitioning the city’s fleet to renewable diesel and electric vehicles, creating a Climate Action Reserve Fund, and pursuing green building policies across municipal operations. Agriculture, a cornerstone of Abbotsford’s identity, is also central to these plans. Beyond agritech innovation and farmland preservation, the city operates its own irrigation system to help farmers manage climate pressures. By controlling water levels in ditches and drainage canals across Sumas Barrowtown Pump Station Barrowtown was built to pump water out of the low-lying Sumas Prairie lands via the Sumas Canal and into the Fraser River to prevent flooding. It also is used to control water levels in the adjacent drainage channels for farmers to pull from for irrigation in drier months. (Photo Credit- City of Abbotsford) 53 AUG 2025 | BUSINESS ELITE CANADA
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