The federal government has approved the Springbank dry dam project, clearing the way for construction after more than half a decade of opposition.

On Thursday, Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson signed off on the multimillion-dollar project that will divert and temporarily hold water from an overflowing Elbow River to prevent a repeat of the 2013 deluge that severely damaged parts of central Calgary.

“I have determined that the designated project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects,” Wilkinson said in his decision statement.

That decision, widely expected after a federal draft report embraced the project with numerous conditions, comes following years of government reviews, including one lasting five years by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada.

It found the dam and reservoir won’t likely result in significant environmental impacts if its construction and operation meet a long list of mitigating requirements.

“The project is therefore allowed to proceed,” stated the agency.

It comes after a concerted effort by opponents of the project consisting mainly of landowners, local lawmakers and First Nations who argued it would displace homeowners, wreak environmental and health havoc, fail to fully prevent severe flooding and ravage taxpayers.

Over the years, the initiative’s price tag has grown from $200 million to $432 million, though opponents insist that number is likely much higher.

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