Seminar – 2 July – Flood Susceptibility Assessment of the Hudson Bay Railway.

Date: Wednesday 2nd July 2025
Time: 1pm Eastern Time / 11am Mountain Time

Adeleh Moqadam will be presenting Flood Susceptibility Assessment of the Hudson Bay Railway.

The Hudson Bay Railway (HBR) is a critical transportation link in northern Manitoba, providing access to the Port of Churchill. Its location across a permafrost region and extensive wetlands poses ongoing drainage challenges, especially under changing climate conditions. Washouts along the railway over the past decade, caused by excessive water flow, have highlighted its vulnerability to flooding events.

In this seminar, Adeleh will present two studies that preliminarily assess flood risk potential along the HBR using GIS analysis and hydrological modeling. The first study involves developing a flood susceptibility map to identify segments of the track that are more prone to flooding. The second study quantifies potential increases in runoff due to climate change at a railway bridge in the Weir River basin, which was previously identified as a highly flood-prone area. This is done by developing a semi-distributed hydrological model using the Raven Hydrological Modelling Framework. After calibrating the model under current climate conditions, it was forced with climate change projections to simulate future peak flows. Findings from these studies aim to support decision-makers in improving the HBR drainage system and enhancing its long-term resilience to climate change.

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