March 19, 2015
Province Advises Adjustment Made to Fairford Control Structure to Reduce Outflows
– – –Portage Diversion Ready for Operation, if Required
Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation advises the winter operation of the Fairford Control Structure has been completed and outflows from the structure have been reduced.
Flows out of the Fairford Control Structure, between Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg, have been lowered to 7,700 cubic feet per second (cfs) from 9,000 cfs to reduce the risk of ice jams on the Dauphin River, downstream of Lake St. Martin. Lower flows reduce the potential for flooding of communities on the Dauphin River. It is planned that flows will be restored to full discharge as soon as the ice-jam risk has passed.
As well, the Portage Diversion could be operated in the near future to draw down flows on the Assiniboine River to prevent ice jams between Portage la Prairie and Winnipeg. Warm weather and a rapid melt over the past week have increased flows on the Assiniboine River.
Current flows on the Assiniboine River at Portage la Prairie are about 6,500 cfs. Portage Reservoir inflows will be monitored for potential increases that may require operating the diversion in the next few days. Operation of the Portage Diversion would reduce the potential for ice jams on the Assiniboine River.
The Portage Diversion has been used to protect communities on the Assiniboine River from flood damage almost every flood year since construction was completed in 1970. Water from the Portage Diversion flows into Lake Manitoba. Lake Manitoba at Steep Rock is currently at 813 feet, which is a half a foot above its upper level regulation range.
Up-to-date flood information can be found at www.manitoba.ca/flooding, on mobile devices at www.manitoba.ca, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MBGov or at 1-866-626-4862 (toll-free).
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