Approximately 30 Manitoba Conservation staff have been deployed to the RM of Siglunes to assist with flood-fighting efforts on Lake Manitoba.
The Province of Manitoba deployed approximately 32 government employee volunteers today to the RM of Grahamdale to assist with sandbagging and dike construction efforts for at-risk properties.
Volunteers are needed for sandbagging around Lake Manitoba lakefront farms, residences, cottages and communities. Volunteers are asked to contact:
• RM of St. Laurent, 204-646-2259
• RM of Siglunes, 204-768-2641
• RM of Grahamdale, 204-768-2858.
Used sandbags that have had any contact with flood waters may be contaminated and should not be reused, and must be disposed of properly in a landfill or other facility arranged by the local municipality. Plans are being developed to possibly redistribute used, dry sandbags to areas in need.
Winds continue to affect areas around Lake Manitoba. Rain is forecast for much of southern Manitoba this weekend.
Flood waters have drained to just over half a square kilometre from the high of 3.44 sq. km in the controlled release area of the Hoop and Holler Bend near Portage la Prairie. Mandatory evacuations remain in place for three homes due to lack of road access.
Mandatory evacuations have now been lifted for all homes in an area around the Portage Diversion channel.
As part of the Building and Recovery Action Plan, provincial teams are visiting residents around controlled release area regarding the compensation program. The first payments will be based on the visits.
Compensation will also be provided to property owners along the Assiniboine Dikes reinforcement work sites.
The Red River continues to decline and the cleanup has commenced in many valley communities. The costs associated with post-flood cleanup, such as hiring crews to remove sandbags, are eligible for disaster financial assistance funds. Property owners should keep all receipts.
There are currently 2,930 Manitobans evacuated from their homes.
Flood Forecast
Water levels on the Assiniboine River are declining gradually at all points upstream of Portage La Prairie.
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.
Assiniboine River
Water levels on the Qu’Appelle River at Welby are 16.63 ft. today, decreasing 0.11 ft. since yesterday.
Water levels on the Shellmouth Reservoir are 1,412.29 ft., decreasing 0.25 ft. since yesterday. Inflow into the Shellmouth Reservoir is 4,420 cubic feet per second (cfs) and outflow is 6,210 cfs today.
Water levels on the Assiniboine River at the First Street Bridge in Brandon are 1,178.48 ft., decreasing 0.19 ft. since yesterday. Flows at the First Street Bridge in Brandon were 21,400 cfs this morning.
Inflow upstream of Portage la Prairie has decreased to 39,400 cfs today. Flows in the Portage Diversion channel are at 21,400 cfs. Flows on the Assiniboine River at the Portage Reservoir control gates are 18,000 cfs and will be decreased to 15,000 cfs in gradual steps from June 1 to 15. Water levels will be maintained at 15,000 cfs until Portage Diversion flows have minimized. This reduction in Assiniboine River flows is necessary to minimize dike failure along the Assiniboine River.
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.
