Archived News Releases

Flood Response

• A partial ring-dike closure will likely occur on the north side of Morris tomorrow.  This would be a precautionary measure to address forecasted winds that may push additional water toward the town’s dikes and PTH 75.
• PTH 75 continues to be assessed and may potentially close at Morris tomorrow.
• Partial ring-dike closures are underway or complete at Noyes, St. Jean Baptiste, Gretna, St. Adolphe and Ste. Agathe.
• Work along the ring dike at Letellier is complete.
• Lake Manitoba is above the upper limits of its operating range and, as a result, operation of the Fairford Dam is expected to begin tomorrow to lower the lake level, which is currently at 247.8 metres (812.85 feet).  Downstream from the dam, the level of Lake St. Martin has dropped to 244.5 m (802.16 ft.) and the Dauphin River is now clear of ice.  Lake St. Martin First Nation and the Little Saskatchewan First Nation have flood protection measures in place up to 245.3 m (805 ft.).  The Fairford Dam outflow is currently 9,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) and it will be increased to 10,500 cfs.
• The installation of cage barrier (Hesco) dikes at Spruce Woods Park is also complete and is protecting park infrastructure.
• Work to set up three kilometres of water-filled barrier-tube dikes in the Vita and Gardenton area should be completed tomorrow.
• The Red River Floodway is continuing to operate to protect the city of Winnipeg and hold levels south of the city at natural.
• The Fisher and Icelandic rivers are experiencing ice jamming.  Equipment is on site at bridges on these two rivers to help break up the ice jams.
• Some flooding occurred in the Minitonas area as a result of ice and one home was flooded.  Levels have now dropped.  The breakup of rivers and streams is starting in the Swan River area.
• As a precautionary measure, the Office of the Chief Provincial Public Health Officer has issued a boil-water advisory for those using private, untreated water sources such as well water or surface water for drinking water in flooded areas.  The Manitoba government will once again cover the costs of testing drinking water supplies once flooding has ended. 

Forecast Summary

• Cooler temperatures forecast for later in the week will generally slow run-off and water level rises in the Assiniboine River basin, Dauphin Lake basin and Interlake area.
• A high-water advisory is issued for Sturgeon Creek.  The high-water advisories for the Souris River near Melita and the downstream portion of the Pembina River remain in effect.

Red River

• Yesterday’s rainfall in the Fargo area did not increase the crest on the Red River, but is likely to sustain it for a longer period.
• The main stem of the Red River from Emerson to south of the city of Winnipeg has generally risen just over 0.15 m (0.5 ft.) since yesterday’s readings.  Flows on the Red River at Emerson are 37,000 cfs.
• Water levels at the floodway inlet have risen approximately 0.09 m (0.3 ft.).  Flow rates in the Red River above the floodway are approximately 62,000 cfs with an upstream elevation of 231.5 m (759.39 ft.).  Flows in the floodway are at approximately 17,500 cfs.
• Closure of PTH 75 at Morris is expected tomorrow.  The ring dike at St. Jean Baptise and a crossing at Noyes are closed to protect area residents.  PR 200 access to the north end of St. Adolphe is restricted to one-lane traffic. 
• The Red River between Winnipeg and Selkirk is open.  Ice from Netley Creek to Lake Winnipeg has partially moved out and water levels are declining.

Water Levels along the Red River

 

Station Location	Elevation (ft.)1	Change from Yesterday	Projected Crest Elevation (ft.)	Project Crest Date
Fargo	38.30 (reported in feet above winter ice level)	-0.26	Is cresting	April 10-11
Grand Forks	46.06	+1.52	50.5	April 14-15
Emerson	783.86	+0.66	790.8-792	April 22-26
Letellier	780.77	+0.43	785.4-786.4	April 22-26
St. Jean Baptiste	776.31	+0.36	782.8-784.0	April 21-28
Morris	774.08	+0.62	782.3-783.3	April 23-29
Ste. Agathe	765.99	nil	774.8-776.0	April 26-May 3
St. Adolphe	761.65	+0.59	771.3-772.3	April 27-May 4
Above floodway	759.30	+0.97	767.0-768.6	April 27-May 4
James Avenue in Winnipeg	19.84 (reported in feet above winter ice level)	-0.42	21-24	April 27-May 4
Selkirk (at dock)	722.70	-0.52
Breezy Point	718.37	-0.79

¹Elevations read at approximately 9 a.m., April 11, 2011

Assiniboine River

• The main stem of the Assiniboine River at Brandon and Holland has risen less than 0.3 m (1 ft.) since yesterday.  Tributaries and the main stem of the river remain within banks at all locations at this time.
• Shellmouth Reservoir inflow is 990 cfs and outflow is 400 cfs with a reservoir elevation of 412.8 m (1,384 ft.).
• Flows in the Portage Diversion channel are 5,250 cfs and flows on the Assiniboine River downstream of the diversion are 2,950 cfs.  Inflow is 8,200 cfs.
• In the next two days, flows will increase on the Assiniboine River east of Southport to about 5,000 cfs.

Pembina River

• Significant run-off has started in the Pembina River system.  Tributaries such as Badger Creek are bank full.   Water levels on the Pembina River at Neche, N.D., have risen 0.5 m (1.7 ft.) since yesterday.
• Water levels on the Manitoba portion of the Pembina River and downstream of Rock Lake have increased by 0.4 m (1.2 ft.) since yesterday and are above bank-full levels. 

Souris River

• Water continues to overtop the banks at several locations on the Souris River.  Water levels on the Souris River at Melita are the same as yesterday. 

Interlake Region

• Due to recent warmer temperatures and the subsequent snowmelt, water levels on Sturgeon Creek have risen by more than 0.3 m (one ft.) in the last two days and are close to bank-full levels at the Ness Avenue bridge.
• Ice conditions on the Fisher and Icelandic rivers have caused water to overtop banks at some locations.  
• The Icelandic River has increased 0.94 m (3.1 ft.) since yesterday.

Other Major Waterways

• Water levels on the Roseau River are cresting but a second crest for the U.S. is expected.
• Run-off on the Brokenhead and La Salle rivers is well underway and flows are increasing.
• The Saskatchewan River has seen minimal rises in the last 24 hours.
• Water levels on the Whitemud River at Keyes increased by approximately 1.2 m (four ft.) since yesterday.  Water levels increased 0.5 m (1.5 ft.) at Westbourne since yesterday.

Water Levels at other Major Waterways and Water Bodies

 

Station Location	Elevation (ft.)	Change from Yesterday
Pembina River at Pelican Lake	Not available
Pembina River at La Rivière	1290.88	+0.28
Whitemud River at Keyes	951.90	+3.95
Lake Manitoba near Westbourne	813.11	+0.07
Shoal Lakes2	859.5	monitored weekly at this time
Lake Winnipeg at Gimli	714.79	+0.09

¹Elevations read at approximately 8 a.m., April 11, 2011

²Elevations read on April 7, 2011 

For more information, go to www.manitoba.ca/flooding.  The most up-to-date highway information is at www.gov.mb.ca/mit/roadinfo, 945-3704 or 1-877-MBRoads (1-877-627-6237).

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Media contact only:  204-945-0730 or 24-hour line, 204-945-2797.

Après la publication de chaque rapport sur les inondations, les renseignements sont mis à jour en français dès que possible. 

Pour les consulter, allez à www.gov.mb.ca/waterstewardship/floodinfo/forecasts_reports.html puis cliquez sur « Daily Flood Reports».