News Releases

Manitoba Water Stewardship’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre has issued a high water advisory for the Churchill River from Pukatawagan to Leaf Rapids.  High levels are flooding docks and smaller roads. 

 

Levels of the Churchill River have been rising steadily for the past few months as a result of high run‑off resulting from significant rain in Saskatchewan. Pukatawagan Lake, east of the Manitoba-Saskatchewan boundary, has risen 0.98 metres (3.2 feet) since July 20. It is now 2.1 m (seven ft.) above its normal August level.  Granville Lake has also risen 0.98 m (3.2 ft.) since July 20 and continues to rise.

 

The Churchill River has reached a crest at Sandy Bay in eastern Saskatchewan and little further rise is expected at Pukatawagan Lake, based on favourable weather from now on.  Levels at Granville Lake and Leaf Rapids are expected to rise an additional 0.6 to 0.9 m (two to three ft.) before crests occur in early September.

 

Crests for this event are expected to be about one m (3.3 ft.) lower than those of the record flood in the autumn of 2005, however anyone using the river is advised to take precautions to protect against rising water levels as best possible.

 

High outflows from Reindeer Lake in Saskatchewan are producing about half of the river discharge at the Manitoba-Saskatchewan boundary.  It is anticipated these outflows will soon be reduced and levels in Manitoba will begin to decline during September.

 

Levels of Southern Indian Lake are expected to remain in the desirable range due to proactive operations of the Missi Dam by Manitoba Hydro.  Outflows at the dam have been much above average this summer and will remain high through the autumn.  However, no serious difficulties have been reported on the lower Churchill River between Northern Indian Lake and Hudson Bay.

 

The latest information on water advisories can be found at www.gov.mb.ca/waterstewardship/water_info/index.html.

 

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