Seven years of collaboration, more than 30 projects completed, a complete information package on flooding, an improved Hydroclimatic Atlas: such was the scope of the Support for INFO-Crue project, which will come to an end in 2025. Find out more about the benefits of this project in this news.

A major challenge

While spring is generally synonymous with the return of good weather, it’s also known to be prone to flooding. Accelerated snowmelt and more extreme precipitation are influencing the number and severity of spring floods in the context of climate change.

In response to this challenge, the Support for INFO-Crue project—a collaboration between Ouranos and the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP)—was established seven years ago as a key flood risk management initiative.

With more than 30 projects completed, Support for INFO-Crue offers avenues for reflection on the issue as well as practical, accessible resources to help communities better anticipate and adapt to springtime flooding.

What is INFO-Crue?

In recent years, Quebec has experienced major flooding, so managing the risks associated with this hazard has become an important issue for Quebec society. The INFO-Crue project is a government initiative to better understand and anticipate flooding in Quebec.

One of the major deliverables of this collaboration between many experts is a complete map of the province’s flood zones. This is essential for better land use planning. Ouranos was mandated by the Quebec government to support the INFO-Crue project in including climate change in this map.

The community of scientists who contributed to the development of the science behind the development of next-generation mapping of flood zones and mobility zones in Quebec was recognized for its work with the 38th Radio-Canada Scientist of the Year Award in 2024.  

A variety of resources at your fingertips

As the subject of flooding is both complex and sensitive, Ouranos and the MELCCFP have taken care to create a variety of ways to report on the conclusions of the Support for INFO-Crue project, providing a wide range of information on how climate change impacts the risks of flooding.

A complete resource for understanding flooding in Quebec

The information package on flooding [French only] offers several useful resources:

1. A summary of the essential things to know about flooding in Quebec in the context of climate change, in the form of seven key messages  

2. A question-and-answer document and a comprehensive report explaining the challenges involved in publishing flood zone mapping and the solutions that can overcome them

3. A five-minute video clip summarizing the key messages from the Support for INFO-Crue project

4. A webinar exploring recent advances in flood risk assessment in the context of climate change in Quebec

Interactive education on flood forecasting

To better manage the risk of flooding, the Quebec government has also enhanced the web application Vigilance – Surveillance de la crue des eaux.

It provides 48-hour flood forecasts for many rivers in southern Quebec. The application informs the population about the state of the water levels in Quebec, and also allows municipal and government workers to trigger alerts and coordinate responses in the event of an emergency.

To help people properly interpret the flood forecasts provided by this application, Ouranos, in collaboration with the MELCFFP, has developed a training course with five modules, including four videos, covering the following topics:

1. An overview of flood forecasting

2. Introduction to the science behind flood forecasting

3. Weather forecasting

4. Hydrological forecasting

5. Hydraulic forecasting

The next steps for this complex subject

Although the Support for INFO-Crue project is coming to an end, there will be many activities and initiatives in the coming years to improve Quebec’s flood resilience.  

As a result of the collaboration between Ouranos and the MELCCFP, a new mandate has been given to the consortium. This new project, called QClim’Eau, aims to support the government in taking climate change into account in regulatory work related to the determination of floodplains and mobility zones, as well as water withdrawal authorizations. QClim’Eau will also continue the collaboration between the two organizations and extend it to a wider range of hydroclimatic issues.

Collaboration with partners is essential to advance climate change research. This concerted work results in concrete results, including resources like videos and training sessions, which can support decision-making and encourage the implementation of adaptation solutions. Ultimately, this cooperation will