Manitoba Parks is advising of changes to flood-related closures and advisories at some provincial parks. Flood conditions continue to pose a risk to public safety, and all visitors are reminded to check and carefully monitor conditions prior to heading to provincial parks.
Details on all flood-related closures and advisories in provincial parks are available at manitobaparks.com.
Road closures remain in Duck Mountain, Nopiming and Whiteshell provincial parks. All park visitors should check www.manitoba511.ca for potential detours before travelling to parks. Park visitors are reminded to obey road and trail closures, and not attempt to drive through flooded areas or across damaged bridges.
In Whiteshell Provincial Park, Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure is completing the removal of the emergency gravel road this week. Once completed, Provincial Road (PR) 307 will reopen to all traffic from the west entrance at Seven Sisters Falls to Nutimik Lake.
PR 307 remains closed between Nutimik Lake and the Bannock Point Petroforms due to floodwaters over the Rennie River bridge at Heart Lake. Betula Lake, Bannock Point Petroforms and the Pine Point Rapids Trail can only be accessed from the south via Rennie.
Seasonal campers at Betula, Dorothy, and Nutimik lakes and Opapiskaw Campground can return June 30. Nightly campsites at Betula and Nutimik lakes and Opapiskaw Campground will reopen July 1. Some campsites along flooded shorelines will remain closed.
The White Lake campground will remain closed until at least July 15 and the Otter Falls campground will remain closed until at least July 29 due to continuing floodwaters in these campgrounds.
Water fill stations and pump houses in the north Whiteshell region may be operating under a boil water order until the water tests safe for consumption. Campers, cottagers and residents returning to the park should be prepared to boil their water or supply their drinking water.
Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure is continuing ongoing repairs of PR 307 and PR 309 throughout the north Whiteshell region. Expect delays when travelling in the park, use caution and drive slow when coming up to or passing work crews.
Watercraft restrictions remain in place on lakes in Nopiming and Whiteshell provincial parks to limit erosion and property damage from boat wakes along flooded shorelines. Details on lake restrictions and boat launch closures are available at manitobaparks.com.
Beach users in Nopiming and Whiteshell provincial parks are advised to use caution as swim buoy lines have not yet been installed in all designated swim areas and there may be submerged debris in swim areas. The Crescent Beach seawall at West Hawk Lake is closed.
The Hunt Lake Trail, the Caddy Lake Tunnels and backcountry campsites on the Winnipeg River above Lamprey Falls remain closed due to high water levels. Travelling on the Winnipeg River above Lamprey Falls is not recommended.
The Rainbow Beach Provincial Park campground is closed until at least July 8 due to continuing floodwaters. The beach is open for day use. Water levels on Dauphin Lake remain very high and any strong northern winds pushes lake water into the park.
The Birch Point Provincial Park campground and boat launch will remain closed until at least July 15 due to overland flooding. Water levels continue to rise on Lake of the Woods, which may result in an extended closure.
Campgrounds in Camp Morton, Hecla/Grindstone, Hnausa Beach, Manipogo, Nopiming, Rivers, St. Malo, Turtle Mountain and Watchorn provincial parks also have some partial campsite closures due to wet conditions.
Reservation holders will be contacted if they are affected by a campsite closure. If affected by a closure, reservation holders can request a full refund or move their reservation to another available location. Campers should not pre-emptively cancel reservations before being notified of a site closure, otherwise cancellation policies will apply. Closures may be extended if flooding and wet conditions continue.
Manitoba Parks continues to closely monitor the evolving flood situation and assess conditions daily, and continues to co-ordinate with Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure, Emergency Measures Organization, Manitoba Conservation Officer Service, Office of the Fire Commissioner, Manitoba Wildfire Service and Manitoba Hydro in its response.
