Deep dive into US and Canadian efforts toward current flood mitigation

Canadian provincial and local leaders continue to press for federal flood mitigation support following the December 2025 flood event, while a new cross-border agreement aims to improve cooperation between British Columbia and Washington State.

BC Minister of Emergency Management Kelly Greene, Abbotsford Mayor Ross Siemens and Sumas First Nation Chief Dalton Silver traveled to the Canada capital in Ottawa, Ontario, on February 4th and 5th, 2026, to request a federal partnership for flood-reduction infrastructure. The delegation emphasized the national economic importance of the Sumas Prairie, noting that Abbotsford farms generate $3.8 billion in annual economic activity.

Sumas Prairie

The BC government has committed $3.3 million to the Sumas River Watershed Flood Mitigation Initiative for planning projects, including dike construction and increased pumping capacity. However, the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce estimates $1.8 billion is required to fully protect the region.

The push for funding comes after the significant flooding event in December 2025, which caused an estimated $74 million in insured damages across the Sumas Prairie. This was the second major flood event in the area in four years.

Flooding from Washington State’s Nooksack River reportedly contributed to the damage in the Fraser Valley during the December event. In addition to the Nooksack River, the Fraser River and the Sumas and Chilliwack Rivers, which flow from the Fraser, are also cited as contributors to flooding in the Sumas Prairie.

Because the Sumas Prairie is a drained lakebed (formerly Sumas Lake), much of the land sits lower than the high-water level of the nearby Fraser River. To keep the region dry, the Barrowtown Pump Station at the east end is tasked with drainage of the current farmlands.

In related cross-border developments, legislators from B.C. and Washington signed a new co-operation agreement in Vancouver on January 9, 2026. The bilateral group, co-chaired by BC Speaker Raj Chouhan and Washington Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck, will meet annually to discuss shared challenges, including ecological and economic concerns.

As of today, February 17, 2026, the following actions, meetings, and funding commitments are underway on the US side of the border regarding Nooksack River flooding.

• Nooksack and Sumas Transboundary Flood Initiative (TFI), a four-year framework signed in October 2023. Current work under this initiative includes:
  • Data Sharing & Modeling: US and Canadian officials are currently updating hydraulic models to understand flood risks under climate change scenarios. This includes the “Everson Flow Split” study to evaluate how much Nooksack River water overflows north into Canada during high-flow events.
  • FEMA Map Updates: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is in a multi-year process to update flood maps for the Nooksack River, which relies on computer modeling to predict flow paths during significant floods.
  • Nooksack River Floodplain Integrated Planning (FLIP): This ongoing local process involves Whatcom County, Lummi Nation, Nooksack Indian Tribe and other stakeholders evaluating long-term mitigation measures.
• Bilateral Legislator Meetings: Following the cooperation agreement signed January 9, 2026, between Washington State and British Columbia legislators, a bilateral group co-chaired by Washington Lt. Gov. Denny Heck and B.C. Speaker Raj Chouhan is scheduled to meet annually to discuss shared challenges, including ecological and economic concerns. The specific date for the next annual meeting has not been publicly released as of today.
• Transboundary Flood Initiative (TFI) Tables: The TFI “Leadership Table” is mandated to meet two to three times per year to direct policy and technical work. Specific future dates for 2026 are not currently listed in public schedules.
• Committed Funds:
  • $3.5 Million (State): Washington Governor Bob Ferguson committed $3.5 million in state emergency funds in early 2026 for immediate response, shelter, and food assistance following the December 2025 floods.
  • $11.8 Million (Local/Grants): Whatcom County has secured grants specifically for property mitigation:
    • $9.4 million for the voluntary buyout of 12 high-risk properties.
    • $2.4 million to elevate 12 homes to meet flood safety standards.
  • ~$1.4 million raised by the Whatcom Community Foundation from private donors for immediate relief and recovery.
• Requested (Pending) Funds:
  • $21.3 Million (Federal): On January 21, 2026, Washington Governor Ferguson formally requested a “Major Disaster Declaration” from US President Donald Trump, seeking $21.3 million in FEMA “Individual Assistance” for families. As of February 15, 2026, this request was still pending presidential approval, with local reports noting that previous federal funding delays have “dampened expectations.”
  • Infrastructure Funding: A separate request for FEMA “Public Assistance” (to repair roads, levees, and infrastructure) is scheduled to be submitted by the state on or before February 18, 2026 (tomorrow).