March 18, 2011
Multi-million Dollar Project Underway to Enhance Assiniboine River Dikes
– – –Over 70 Kilometres of Enhancement Work to be Completed
Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation reports work is well underway with crews and over 100 pieces of heavy equipment reinforcing and raising earthen dikes along approximately 70 kilometres of the Assiniboine River from Portage la Prairie to just east of the Baie St. Paul Bridge, north of Elie.
This year’s forecast predicts spring run-off and an already high-flowing Assiniboine River is expected to create flooding situations similar to those of 1976 and upgrading the permanent dikes is necessary to protect people and property, the department said.
The work involves raising approximately 70 kms of dikes and reinforcement with rock along a small number of locations to protect banks from high river currents. Any large trees removed from the dikes are being salvaged for further use.
The dikes were first constructed in 1912, then reinforced in 1950 and again after the 1997 flood to protect farmland, farms and residences as well as the communities of Elie, La Salle, Sanford and Starbuck. For high flood events, the Assiniboine dikes prevent the transfer of Assiniboine water to the La Salle watershed.
Other steps taken to reduce the potential flood impact of the Assiniboine River include the lowering the Shellmouth Reservoir level and maintenance work on the Portage Diversion.
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