Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation will operate the Portage Diversion to lessen the impact of potential ice jams on the Assiniboine River downstream of Portage la Prairie. This is to maintain a river flow of 5,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). The Assiniboine River is currently rising and the operation of the diversion will reduce potential problems with ice.
The operation of the Portage Diversion for ice management on the lower Assiniboine River will be limited in flow and duration, depending on the flows from upstream. The Assiniboine River flow into the Portage Reservoir is anticipated to increase to 7,200 cfs in the next couple of days.
Ice jams could cause rapid increases of the river level and could impact unprotected areas. The operation is intended to benefit downstream communities and municipalities such as St. François Xavier, Cartier, Headingley and the city of Winnipeg.
The level of Lake Manitoba is 812.9 feet. It is expected diverted flows for this short of a period of time will have a negligible effect on the level of Lake Manitoba.
