November 5, 2014
Province Advises Winter Operation of Fairford Control Structure
– – –Operation to help Control Potential Ice Damages Downstream on the Dauphin River
Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation will conduct a winter operation of the Fairford Control Structure to control potential ice damages in downstream communities on the Dauphin River. This will help reduce the flow of the Dauphin River during the transition from open water to a solid ice cover, reducing the frazil ice flood threat that occurs from the start of freeze-up to completion.
This year’s Fairford River discharge is the second highest since the 1960 commencement of regulation of Lake Manitoba. The purpose of reducing outflow from Lake Manitoba through the Fairford River is to reduce flows on the Dauphin River, which is located downstream of Lake St. Martin. Lower flows on the Dauphin River reduce the potential for frazil ice to develop, which could result in ice jam-related flooding of communities located on the Dauphin River downstream of Lake St. Martin. The Fairford flow setting will provide Lake Manitoba with a continued decline in levels while helping to reduce the potential impacts of frazil ice downstream.
Flows will be reduced starting Thursday, to 10,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) from the current flow of approximately 13,500 cfs.
Past procedure has been to reduce Fairford to 5,000 cfs in the fall until mid-February. This year, flows will be reduced for an approximate six-week period and then be opened again to full discharge with the potential to reduce at spring break up again for a short period. Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation will be continuously monitoring conditions on both the river and lakes, and will make further adjustments as required to manage high water levels.
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