Manitoba Water Stewardship advises the Red River Floodway gates will be raised for the first time in 2009 at approximately 1 p.m. this afternoon.
Engineering staff recommended the immediate partial operation of the floodway. The gradual raising of the gates is expected to minimize the diversion of ice into the floodway channel and hold Winnipeg river levels at 5.64 metres (18.5 feet) at James Avenue while maintaining less than natural levels upstream.
The operation is necessary to avoid the risk of flooding in Winnipeg due to the combination of high river flows and the potential for a serious ice jam. Future floodway operations will depend upon ice conditions both upstream and downstream of the structure.
The horn was sounded at the inlet control structure at 12:30 p.m. and the gates will partially rise at 1 p.m. in accordance with the floodway operating rules.
