News - Flooding

Farmers at Keystone Agricultural Producers advisory council meeting this past week called for the province to address flooding on Lake Manitoba and in the Assiniboine River Valley – both situations caused by the same problem.

The Hydrologic Forecast Centre of Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation advises that normal seasonal daytime high temperatures near 0°C in southern Manitoba for the next seven to 10 days are slowing the spring run-off and snowmelt in most areas.

The Hydrologic Forecast Centre at Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation advises that spring run-off due to snowmelt has started in most of the southern, southwest, southeast and Interlake regions.

The risk of overland flooding is generally minor to moderate as the run-off potential is normal to below normal across the province according to the Hydrologic Forecast Centre of Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation’s first 2016 spring flood outlook.

Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation advises ice cutting is scheduled to begin on the Red River north of Selkirk today as part of the provincial flood-fighting effort to reduce ice-jam flooding.

A new state-of-the-art flood forecast centre that will accommodate more forecasters and flood operators to handle the complexity of flood forecasting and a changing climate will be ready for the spring 2016 flood season and beyond.

The Hydrologic Forecast Centre of Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation has released the 2015 Fall Conditions Report on soil moisture levels at freeze-up, which at this time suggests high levels in the western areas of the province while the Red River Valley is about average.

Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation has determined there were periods of incremental artificial flooding downstream of the Shellmouth Dam and Reservoir due to its operation in 2014 and will compensate landowners in the Assiniboine Valley affected by it.

The St. Adolphe East Dike Expansion, including the reconstruction of the existing easterly portion of the St. Adolphe Flood Protection Ring Dike, has officially begun.

More homes will be protected from basement flooding with a sump pump and backwater valve installed with financial help from the Manitoba government.