Fraser Valley Floods Hit Farms Again, Four Years After Disaster

Rising floodwaters in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley are causing serious problems for farmers in the Sumas Prairie, a region still recovering from devastating floods in 2021. The province’s agriculture minister, Lana Popham, said the recent heavy rainfall has already submerged a few poultry barns and forced dozens of farms to evacuate.

Currently, 68 farms are under evacuation orders and 98 more are on alert. Popham described the situation as emotionally taxing for farmers, saying she could hear fear in their voices during conversations.

Farmers in the Sumas Prairie went through severe flooding in November 2021 that left the region underwater for weeks, causing major damage to homes, crops, and livestock. While the provincial government is coordinating with farming associations to provide help where possible, frustration is mounting among local farmers and politicians as this key agricultural region faces flooding again.

Abbotsford Mayor Ross Siemens has called for urgent flood mitigation measures on both sides of the border, pointing to overflow from the Nooksack River in Washington state as a major factor. Siemens criticized the federal government for failing to take action since the 2021 floods, stating that residents, farms, and food security are “needlessly” at risk.

Poultry farmer Jeffrey Spitters, who has farmed in Sumas Prairie since 2013, shared his concern. While his farm is elevated enough to avoid flooding, he noted that many other farmers may not be so lucky. “We have no control of it,” he said, referring to the cross-border river management.

Conservative MP Brad Vis, whose family operates a poultry farm in the area, emphasized that while the region received funding to rebuild after 2021, no federal money was provided for infrastructure that could withstand future extreme weather events and climate-driven “atmospheric rivers.” He stressed that farmers in the region are vital to Canada’s food supply but have not received the attention or support needed.

The City of Abbotsford confirmed that federal Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski has offered to meet with Mayor Siemens to discuss potential grant opportunities after criticism over a lack of federal communication during the floods.

With floodwaters rising again, local farmers face uncertainty, and the urgency for cross-border solutions has never been greater.