Posted on 06/16/2011, 8:52 am, by mySteinbach

The one-stop office in St. Laurent will reopen on the weekend between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the St. Laurent Royal Canadian Legion Hall to assist with compensation applications and other flood support.

Residents of Vogar have been allowed home following a mandatory evacuation initiated by the RM of Siglunes, but remain on evacuation alert.

Residents of Lundar Beach and Sugar Point and at Mrs. Ellie’s Drive and Skinny Dip Bay were provided access to their properties during the day to check their cottages and homes. Access to the area is limited by unsafe roads.

Starting next week, four rapid assistance teams from Manitoba Conservation will assist communities with flood-recovery work.

Staff from the provincial and federal governments are sandbagging at-risk properties in the Lundar area over the next three days.

Work continues at the town of Souris to reinforce a dike in the community that has experienced some erosion damage from high water flows.

The RM of Cartier has loaned two small sandbagging machines to Ochre River. One is operating at the Dauphin Correctional Centre and the second is near Dauphin Lake. These two machines are in addition to the large provincial sandbagging machine being run by the RM of Ochre River.

Flood Forecast Summary

An unstable weather system brought rain to much of southern Manitoba over the last few days. Although average rainfall values remain between 10 and 15 millimetres, some areas received significant rainfall resulting in overland flooding and minor rises in tributary flows. The weather forecast calls for further rain for the rest of the week and into the weekend for much of southern Manitoba. Winds are forecast to be light today and tomorrow.

Water levels on the Saskatchewan River at The Pas increased 0.07 feet since yesterday to 854.07 ft., with a flow of 66,500 cubic feet per second (cfs). Water levels are expected to reach 855.5 to 857 ft. by late June, depending on the weather. The reinforcement of existing dikes and the building of permanent dikes are underway.

Lakes

Forecast peaks are as follows, weather dependant:

• Lake Winnipeg:  716.9 ft. around mid-July. (Source:  Manitoba Hydro) ­ Lake Winnipegosis:  between 835 and 835.5 ft.
• Lake Pineimuta:  between 809 and 809.3 ft. around mid-July.
• Lake Manitoba:  between 816.8 and 817 ft. around mid-July.
• Lake St. Martin:  between 806 and 806.2 ft. around early August.
• Dauphin Lake:  between 860.6 and 861.2 ft. around the end of June.

Lake inundation maps have been updated for Lake Manitoba to an elevation of 817 ft. and are available at www.manitoba.ca/flood as are current water levels, wave uprush illustrations, flood reports and flood sheets.

Lake levels at Oak and Plum Lake are high and continue to contribute high flows to Plum Creek.

The estimated outflow from the Fairford River water control structure is 19,900 cfs today. The structure continues to operate at full capacity due to the high level of Lake Manitoba.

Water levels on Rock Lake declined 0.07 ft. since yesterday to 1,335.91 ft. today. The outlet at Pelican Lake is operating full capacity.

A high water advisory is in effect for all major lakes in Manitoba.

Assiniboine River

A revised forecast has been developed for the Assiniboine River and is based on rainfall received over the last few days and rain in the current forecast:

• Water levels at Miniota are forecast to increase approximately 0.7 ft. to reach 1,244.1 ft. by June 21 and 23, then slowly recede.
• Water levels at the First Street Bridge in Brandon are forecast to increase approximately 0.7 ft. to reach between 1,178.7 and 1,178.9 ft. by June 19, then slowly recede.
• Flows at the Portage la Prairie Reservoir are forecast to reach between 49,000 and 50,000 cfs by June 20 and 21, then slowly recede.

The flood watch for the Qu’Appelle River in the St-Lazare area remains in effect. Water levels on the Qu’Appellle River increased 0.16 ft. to 16.57 ft. since yesterday, with a flow of 5,200 cfs.

Water levels on the Shellmouth Reservoir are 1,407.65 ft., decreasing 0.05 ft. since yesterday. Inflow into the Shellmouth Reservoir is 3,000 cfs and outflow is 3,290 cfs today.

Water levels on the Assiniboine River at the First Street Bridge in Brandon are at 1,178.02 ft., increasing 0.22 ft. since yesterday. Flows at the First Street Bridge are estimated to be 20,200 cfs.

Inflows upstream of Portage la Prairie are 44,400 cfs. Flows in the Portage Diversion channel are 26,500 cfs. Flows on the Assiniboine River at the Portage Reservoir control gates are 17,900 cfs.

Water levels in the Baie St. Paul area are 799.98 ft., increasing 0.08 ft. since yesterday.

The flood warning for the Assiniboine River at all points downstream of the Shellmouth Dam remains in effect.

Souris River

A revised forecast has been developed for the Souris River and is based on rainfall received over the last few days and rain in the current forecast and indicates:

• Water levels at Melita are forecast to reach between 1,411.3 and 1,411.8 ft. around June 17, then slowly recede.
• Water levels at Souris are forecast to reach between 1,361 and 1,361.5 ft. around June 17, then slowly recede.
• Water levels at Wawanesa are forecast to reach between 1,158.9 ft. and 1,160 ft. around June 19, then slowly recede.

The flood warning for the Souris River remains in effect.

Plum Creek increased 0.01 ft. since yesterday to 1,375.99 ft. A flood warning for all reaches of Pipestone Creek and downstream into the Oak and Plum lakes system, then on Plum Creek to the Souris River including the town of Souris remains in effect.

Water levels at Melita decreased 0.2 ft. since yesterday to 1,410.84 ft. today. Water levels at the town of Souris increased 0.16 ft. since yesterday to 1,360.79 ft. today.