Coastal Flood Mapping Project Completed

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD), in partnership with the Town of Gibsons, District of Sechelt, and Islands Trust, has completed the Coastal Flood Mapping Project.

The project will help residents, governments and other agencies understand and prepare for the impacts of sea level rise and coastal flooding across the Sunshine Coast.

Fully funded through the Union of BC Municipalities’ Disaster Risk Reduction – Climate Adaptation Program, the project provides the first consistent, coast-wide maps showing where and how coastal flooding and erosion could affect local communities. The maps identify areas at risk under various sea level rise and storm scenarios and include detailed information about potential future (the minimum safe elevation for new buildings) and a Coastal Vulnerability Index showing which shorelines are most exposed to erosion.

About nine percent of the Sunshine Coast’s coastline was found to have high vulnerability to erosion and seven percent of properties were found to have flooding hazards at current sea levels.

The project goes beyond mapping flood zones. It provides practical recommendations for how local governments can strengthen existing development regulations to better address coastal flooding hazards and reduce risk for future construction. These insights will be used to inform upcoming and ongoing SCRD projects such as Official Community Plan renewals, development permit area reviews, evacuation route planning, and parks management.

For homeowners whose properties fall below the flood risk lines identified in the mapping, there are practical steps available to reduce potential flood impacts in the coming decades. The Green Shores program is one example of available support, helping landowners and construction professionals create more secure, nature-based shorelines that resist erosion and flooding while enhancing natural beauty and property value.

The maps and supporting resources; including FAQs, a project overview, and guidance on how to interpret the results are available at: letstalk.scrd.ca/coastal-flooding and scrd.ca/climate

The results will also be shared with partner agencies such as BC Ferries, BC Hydro, and FortisBC, and with neighbouring First Nations governments.

A public workshop is being planned for late 2025 in partnership with Green Shores to explore nature-based solutions for coastal resilience.