Archived News Releases

News Release - Manitoba

November 1, 2011

Emergency Channel Begins Draining Excess Water from Lake St. Martin, Lake Manitoba

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Work Continues to Bring Lake Levels Down, Minimize Risk of Severe Spring Flooding: Premier

An emergency outlet channel began draining flood water from Lake St. Martin and Lake Manitoba today as planned, Premier Selinger has announced.

“Building this channel was an enormous undertaking completed in a very short period of time,” said Selinger.  “This emergency project will allow us to drain water from Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin throughout the winter to get people back in their homes sooner and minimize the risk of severe spring flooding next year.”

The project is designed to lower levels on Lake St. Martin and help lower Lake Manitoba by allowing the Fairford Dam structure to remain open throughout the winter.  The 6.5-kilometre-long channel begins at the east end of Lake St. Martin and runs east to Buffalo Creek. 

The premier noted plans are now underway for construction of an extended reach of the channel from Buffalo Creek to Lake Winnipeg with the goal of it being operational before the spring melt.  This will help ease spring breakup and ice jam-related flooding along the Dauphin River by diverting water directly from Buffalo Creek into Lake Winnipeg.  This reach of the channel project was outlined as a possible component in the original project description and is accounted for in the initial cost estimates, the premier said. 

“This year’s unprecedented flood fight is not over,” said Selinger.  “We remain committed to providing fair compensation to affected families as we undertake projects to protect everyone from future natural disasters.”

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION ATTACHED


 

 




Backgrounder
Lake St. Martin Emergency Channel - https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/newslinks/2011/10/Lake_St.__Martin_channelbkg.doc