Preliminary construction activity continues on an emergency channel out of Lake St. Martin as recommended by independent engineering firms. If construction can be completed by this fall, levels on both lakes would be lowered before spring run-off begins, reducing the likelihood of flooding in 2012.
Super sandbag protection around Brandon’s First and 18th street bridges will gradually be removed beginning early next week. There will be temporary traffic disruptions at times and the work will take two to three weeks to complete.
There are resources to help deal with stress and anxiety which result from a crisis situation such as this flood. Resources include Manitoba Farm and Rural Support Services at 1-866-367-3276 (1 866-FOR-FARM, toll-free); the Klinic Community Health Centre 24-hour crisis line at 786-8686 in Winnipeg or 1-888-322-3019 (toll-free); and Health Links-Info Santé, which can also help find resources through local regional health authorities or community mental-health services offices at 788-8200 in Winnipeg or 1-888-315-9257 (toll-free). Additional information and tips are available at www.gov.mb.ca/flooding/stressinfo.html.
Information about cleaning up after a flood is available at www.gov.mb.ca/emo/home/recover/.
Flood Forecast Summary
Environment Canada has issued strong wind warnings for Lake Winnipeg and Lake Winnipegosis.
Wind set-up alerts forecast for today include a moderate wind set-up alert for the east shores of Lake Winnipeg and the southeast corner of Lake Manitoba. This includes communities such as Twin Lakes Beach, St. Laurent, Lundar Beach, Vogar and Steeprock.
Wind set-up alerts forecast for tomorrow include a moderate wind set-up alert for the South Basin of Lake Manitoba and the east shores of Lake Winnipeg. This includes communities such as Twin Lakes Beach, St. Laurent, Lundar Beach, Delta Beach, Westbourne, Sandy Bay, Victoria Beach and O’Hanly.
Several lakes have levelled off and remain stable, or have recorded slight declines but remain at very high levels. Lake Manitoba has levelled off and declined slightly over the last two days.
Previously recorded lake levels are as follows:
• Lake Winnipeg: 716.93 ft. on July 7. (Source: Manitoba Hydro.)
• Lake Winnipegosis: stable at 834.83 ft. between July 1 and 3.
• Lake Manitoba: stable at 817.15 ft. between July 12 and 25.
• Dauphin Lake: stable at 860.7 ft. between June 18 and 21.
The current flows just upstream of the Portage Diversion are 20,800 cubic feet per second (cfs), in the river downstream of the diversion they are 17,100 cfs and flows are 3,700 cfs in the diversion channel.
A high water advisory is in effect for the Red River from Emerson to Winnipeg. Heavy rains in the southern portion of the Red River Basin near Fargo, N.D., nearly two weeks ago are still causing the Manitoba portion of the Red River to rise. The Red River crested at Emerson yesterday, is cresting at Ste. Agathe today and is expected to crest in Winnipeg in the next couple of days. Based on the National Weather Service’s revised forecast for the Red River at Oslo, N.D., the recession is expected to begin sooner than originally anticipated. As a result, crest levels are now forecast to remain for less than one week and then begin a significant decline. The Red River will remain within its banks.
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, toll-free) and on Twitter by following @MBGov.
