Provincial and federal governments are committed to working with local municipalities and flood-affected Manitobans as the province prepares for crests along the Red River and rivers across Manitoba, Premier Gary Doer and federal Treasury Board Minister Vic Toews said.
“We want Manitobans and local governments to know we stand with them as they prepare for water levels to rise,” said Doer. “Flooding in Manitoba is all too familiar, but the personal and emotional toll it takes on those faced with losing their houses gets no easier. We want them to know we will be there for them and will work with municipalities to build on preparations we have made together with federal and local governments over the last decade.”
“Now, more than ever, is a time to stand together,” said Doer.
“In emergency situations, the safety of Manitobans is always first in our minds,” said Toews. “Premier Doer and I will work together to ensure support and resources are available to those who need them. We know there are feelings of fear and uncertainty when flood waters are rising and our governments are prepared to work with local municipalities and residents through this flood threat.”
Doer and Toews made the commitment here today where they pointed to flood protection measures that were completed following the 1997 flood. Three levels of government worked together on these improvements which were cost shared between federal, provincial and local governments.
Grand Pointe is now fully protected by a ring dike comprised of an elevated section of PTH 59. These works exceed the provincial flood protection standard for the rest of the Red River Valley by up to 0.6 additional metres (two feet) to address the effects of wind setup and wave action in a major flood. In addition, a new Seine River Diversion channel was constructed to divert high water flows directly into the floodway.
Doer and Toews said substantial progress has been made on flood proofing the Red River Valley over the years in order to protect properties and communities in the valley up to 1997 flood levels plus 0.6 m (two ft.). It is estimated 95 per cent of homes, businesses and farms in the Red River Valley have this level of protection.
Improvements include:
• Over $800 million in provincial and federal funding has been invested into flood preparations since the 1997 flood.
• Over 1,700 individual homes, businesses and farms are now protected.
• Rosenort, Morris, Brunkild, St. Jean Baptiste, Dominion City, St. Adolphe, Emerson and Letellier now have ring dikes protecting their communities to the 1997 flood standard.
• New ring dikes have been constructed at Ste. Agathe, Grande Pointe, Niverville, Gretna, Aubigny, Lowe Farm, Riverside, St-Pierre-Jolys, Rosenfeld and Roseau River.
• Ring dike extensions or replacements have been completed at Rosenort, St‑Pierre‑Jolys, Dominion City and Emerson.
• In the city of Winnipeg, ring-dike projects on Kingston Crescent, North Drive, Kilkenny Drive and Parkwood Place have been completed.
• Today, the floodway channel capacity is more than double what it was in 1997 and is on schedule to deliver one-in-700-year flood protection later this spring.
• Three million sandbags are available in Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation’s warehouse for use.
• Two new sand-bagging machines are ready for use.
• 3,000 metres of water barrier material is available.
• Manitoba has two Amphibex icebreakers and ice-cutting machines available.
• Considerable work has been done to protect individual drinking water supplies, including the conversion of domestic wells to rural water supply pipelines, and there has been remediation and protection of existing wells.
• The Water Resources Administration Act has been passed, ensuring all new development is compliant with the 1997 level plus 0.6 m (two ft.) standard.
• In January 2009, Manitoba Water Stewardship updated its flood emergency action guidelines. The department is leading a unified incident command structure for co-ordination of the flood forecasting and fighting activities of the departments of Water Stewardship; Infrastructure and Transportation; Conservation; and Intergovernmental Affairs.
