High winds and waves have pushed water ashore from Lake Manitoba in several south basin municipalities including Lakeview, Westbourne, Portage la Prairie, Woodlands and St. Laurent. Road access was impacted in some areas.
The RM of Portage la Prairie continues a voluntary evacuation for approximately 30 permanent residences in the Delta Beach area.
Sandbagging continues around Lake Manitoba farms, residences, cottages and communities. Cottagers and residents are encouraged to take steps to protect their properties and move contents to higher and safer ground.
To date, provincial resources sent to 15 municipalities or First Nations around the Lake Manitoba area include:
• approximately 955,000 sandbags (another 105,000 available to be filled);
• 3,260 flood tubes;
• 820 flood barriers;
• 350 super sandbags;
• 50 truckloads of sand;
• five sandbag-making machines; and
• four large pumps.
There are currently 3,304 Manitobans evacuated from their homes.
Inspections and maintenance of the Portage Diversion channel and the Assiniboine River dikes continues.
Canadian Forces personnel continue to provide flood-fighting support in the province along the Assiniboine
River dikes and in the Lake Manitoba area.
In Brandon, First Street now has one lane northbound and one lane southbound open.
Levels of the Red River continue to gradually decline.
Crews will begin reopening the north end of the St. Adolphe ring dike today.
The province has announced the multi-million-dollar Flood 2011: Building and Recovery Action Plan.
Flood Forecast
Flood warnings remain in place for the Assiniboine River at all points downstream of the Shellmouth Dam; Pipestone Creek, all reaches; Oak Lake and Plum Lakes; Plum Creek to the Souris River (including the town of Souris); and the Qu’Appelle River in the St-Lazare area.
High water advisories remain in place for all major lakes in Manitoba and the Souris River.
Lakes
Lake levels at Oak and Plum lakes are high and continue to contribute high flows to Plum Creek.
Due to the high level of Lake Manitoba, the Fairford River water control structure continues to operate at full capacity. Outflows from Lake Manitoba on the Fairford River and further downstream on the Dauphin River remain high.
Assiniboine River
Water levels on the Qu’Appelle River at Welby are 16.84 ft. today, decreasing 0.09 ft. since yesterday.
Water levels on the Shellmouth Reservoir are 1,412.71 ft., decreasing 0.23 ft. since yesterday. Inflow into the Shellmouth Reservoir is 5,440 cubic feet per second (cfs) and outflow is 7,140 cfs today.
Water levels on the Assiniboine River at the First Street Bridge in Brandon are 1,179.20 ft., decreasing 0.20 ft. since yesterday. Flows at the First Street Bridge in Brandon were 23,300 cfs this morning. Water levels at Brandon’s First Street are expected to be close to 1,177 ft. by the end of May, a decline of about two ft. from the current level.
Water levels on the Assiniboine River at the First Street Bridge in Brandon have decreased over 3.7 ft. since the peak on May 15.
Flow on the Assiniboine River upstream of Portage la Prairie is 42,190 cfs. Flows in the Portage Diversion channel are at 24,240 cfs. Flows on the Assiniboine River at the Portage Reservoir control gates are 17,950 cfs.
Water levels in the Baie St. Paul area are 799.8 ft., a decrease of 0.07 ft. since yesterday.
Souris River
Water levels on the Souris River at Wawanesa decreased 0.17 ft. since yesterday to 1,155.54 ft. today.
Red River
Water levels on the Red River just upstream of the Red River floodway inlet decreased 0.48 ft. since yesterday to 758.05 ft., with flows of 47,300 cfs. Flows in the floodway channel are approximately 15,400 cfs.
Flood frequencies for several waterways in Manitoba are provided below:
The Assiniboine River at Brandon experienced a one-in-300-year flood (record).
The Qu’Appelle River at Welby experienced a one-in-300-year flood (record).
The Souris River at Westhope, N.D., experienced a one-in-100-year flood (record).
The Pembina River at Neche experienced a one-in-60-year flood.
The Souris River at Wawanesa experienced a one-in-40-year flood.
The Little Saskatchewan River at Minnedosa experienced a one-in-25-year flood.
The Whitemud River at Keyes experienced a one-in-15-year flood.
The Red River in Winnipeg at James Avenue (natural level) experienced a one-in-27-year flood.
For more information, see www.manitoba.ca/flooding. The most up-to-date highway information is at www.gov.mb.ca/mit/roadinfo or 1-877-MBRoads (1-877-627-6237) and on Twitter by following @MBGov.
