Flooding in Nova Scotia

Floods are a natural part of Nova Scotia's environment. Some areas of Nova Scotia flood often, like the Salmon River, Sackville River and East River. Floods are hard to predict. How often and how severe floods are depends on the weather, shape of the land and human activities.

Impacts of flooding

Flooding can be dangerous – it puts people at risk, damages homes and roads, interrupts vital services and leaves communities facing millions in repair costs. Nova Scotia has the highest number of properties at risk from flooding in Atlantic Canada. According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada’s one-year update (PDF), the floods in July 2023 caused approximately $243 million in insured damages and resulted in devastating loss of life.

What government is doing

A number of Nova Scotia government departments and agencies are engaged in flood related activities, including:

Department of Environment and Climate Change

The Department of Environment and Climate Change collaborates with the Water Survey of Canada to monitor stream flow data (e.g. water levels and flow rates) through 36 hydrometric stations. It also collaborates with the Canadian Hydrographic Service to monitor five tidal water levels across the province’s coastline. This information is critical for monitoring real-time water levels during extreme weather events where flooding is high-risk.

The department also develops, implements and monitors standards and conditions of approval. Many of these have some relevance to flood management.

In addition, the Climate Change Division supports the following flood-related actions through Our Climate, Our Future: Nova Scotia’s Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth (PDF):

• development of resources and planning tools to help homeowners plan for and respond to flood risks
• investing in nature-based solutions to help minimize flood-related impacts
• helping people use flood-related data to support climate adaptation planning

The department addresses coastal flooding and erosion through The Future of Nova Scotia’s Coastline: A Plan to Protect People, Homes and Nature from Climate Change (PDF). This plan helps to protect communities and nature through fifteen actions that:

• empower coastal property owners and municipalities to make informed decisions through resources like the Coastal Hazard Map
• provide guidance on coastal adaptation for municipalities and communities through Coastal Navigators and other new supports like the Coastal Land Use Planning Coordinator with the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities

Visit the Coastal Climate Change webpage for more resources that empower coastal property owners, communities and planners make informed, climate-smart decisions for a safer, more resilient coast.

You can learn more about progress on flood-related actions in the Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act Annual Progress Reports.

Department of Agriculture

The Department of Agriculture’s land protection section is responsible for the management and maintenance of 240 kilometers of tidal dykes (including 260 aboiteau structures) along the Bay of Fundy for the purpose of protecting 17,400 hectares of agricultural land (marsh bodies) from sea water incursions.

Department of Municipal Affairs

The Department of Municipal Affairs provides tools, information and guidance to help municipalities strengthen local planning and decision-making so communities are better prepared for flooding and other climate risks.

Municipal planning documents must support statements of provincial interest on flood risk areas, as outlined in legislation, that aim to protect people and property from flooding.

The municipal flood line mapping program helps municipalities identify and understand flood risks so local governments can develop land use regulations and educate residents about flood prone areas.

The municipal stormwater management program helps municipalities improve stormwater systems to handle heavy rain and reduce flooding. The department also partners with federal and municipal governments to provide strategic infrastructure investments to help municipalities mitigate flood risks.

Department of Emergency Management

The Department of Emergency Management is responsible for emergency planning and coordinating emergency responses. It works with municipal authorities to help plan for emergencies, coordinate provincial resources when there is an emergency and help with analysis and evaluation after an emergency. Its responsibilities include:

• providing integrated emergency planning and coordination with municipalities
• supporting municipal authorities in emergency preparedness and planning
• administering the emergency 911 service
• providing public education and awareness about emergencies
• working with volunteer organizations to support emergency responses
• administering disaster financial assistance programs

Department of Public Works

The Department of Public Works is responsible for delivering quality public infrastructure for the province, including approximately 23,000 km of roads, 4,100 bridges, 7 ferries, 2,400 buildings and dozens of dams, dykes and aboiteaux.

It designs, constructs and in some cases operates and maintains this infrastructure in accordance with nationally and internationally recognized standards.

The department also works with communities on infrastructure developments. Often this infrastructure is developed or renewed in partnership with the federal government, municipal governments and/or other provincial departments. 

Department of Natural Resources

The Department of Natural Resources operates a long-term program to map the vulnerability of the province’s coast to flooding and erosion, using aerial photos, laser scans and detailed maps of rocks and soil to see how waves, tides and currents shape the coast. This helps us understand why shorelines erode and how the sand and gravel from that erosion keep the province’s beaches and wetlands healthy. The department works in partnership with provincial and federal counterparts ensuring alignment with international best practice. Learn more about coastal erosion and flooding.

The department is very active throughout the province’s watersheds. Forestry activities, including road construction and harvesting, can have a large influence on flooding. Through forest sustainability regulations, silviculture programs are in place to establish and tend forest stands within watersheds. The department also administers and enforces wildlife habitat and water course protection regulations.