Flood warnings remain in place

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This article was published 05/05/2022 (1220 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Water levels will likely stay high through most of May across the province while flood warnings remain in place, according to the latest information from the Hydrologic Forecast Centre.

As a result of the heavy rain received between April 29 to May 1 combined with a slower snow melt, many central and southern Manitoba basins of water are experiencing flooding, said Fisaha Unduche, executive director of hydrologic forecasting and water management for the provincial Hydrologic Forecast Centre.

There are 10 municipal emergency operations centres active and states of local emergency have been declared in 25 communities as a result of overland flooding, impacting local roads and access points, as of Thursday.

Unduche said as a result of levels exceeding riverbank capacities, flood warnings and high-water advisories remain in effect for the following areas:

• Flood warning — the Red River from Emerson to the Red River Floodway inlet and from the Red River Floodway channel outlet to Lake Winnipeg; the La Salle, Pembina and Boyne rivers and the Deadhorse, Shannon and Netley creeks. All other Red River tributaries are downgraded to a flood watch. There’s a flood warning for the Fisher and Icelandic rivers; the Assiniboine River from the Shellmouth Dam to Brandon, and the Whiteshell lakes area.

• Flood watch — the Whitemouth, Roseau, Whitemud and Birch rivers.

• High-water advisory — Sturgeon Creek.

The forecast centre expects the Red River at Emerson to reach its peak level this weekend, while other parts of the river will crest through the valley by May 14.

While major precipitation events are not currently in the forecast, Unduche said May and June are Manitoba’s rainy season. He said there is less reason to be concerned this time around if a rain system brings 10 to 20 millimetres of precipitation.

As a result of levels slowly tapering off from the banks, because of the amount of water on the ground in places in central and southern Manitoba, the forecast centre anticipates overland flooding could stick around until the end of the month.

The province is continuing to operate Shellmouth Dam in order to remit downstream flooding and would be increasing outflow on Wednesday afternoon to give the Assiniboine River levels relief.

“The dam will continue to reduce [levels] all the way up to the end of June,” Unduche said.

He is hopeful by the middle of May, farmers will have the chance to start draining their lands as the Red and Assiniboine rivers reach their peak flows and levels.

Johanu Botha, assistant deputy minister responsible for emergency management and head of Manitoba’s Emergency Management Organization (EMO), said the province will continue to stay in its current response mode for as long as necessary to ensure the safety of residents affected by overland flooding.

“Flood season obviously continues to be upon us in Manitoba, and this spring has brought record precipitation that is, of course, creating challenges across the response system,” Botha said.

“If needed, we will be ready to deliver a disaster financial assistance program for those impacted by spring flooding and weather.

The province continues to monitor the flooding impacts on residents, small businesses and First Nations communities, but he doesn’t see Manitoba declaring a state of emergency because the government doesn’t require extra legal powers right now.

Meanwhile, the Red River Floodway and the Portage Diversion continue to operate to lower water levels in Winnipeg.

Flow in the floodway channel was 40,100 cubic feet per second as of Thursday morning, and flows upstream of the floodway inlet as of the same time were approximately 78,200 cubic feet per second.

Many drains, creeks and tributaries in the Red River Valley and the Interlake are above or at capacity.

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk said the past week has given him the opportunity to see the majority of the southern half of the province affected by high water levels, including stops in St. Adolphe, Morris, Altona and Portage la Prairie.

Piwniuk said he is encouraged to see the potential Assiniboine River levels diminish based on water levels receding from Saskatchewan across the Qu’Appelle Valley.

» jbernacki@brandonsun.com

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