Archived News Releases

Flood Bulletin #6

• A flood warning has been issued for Rock Lake near Pilot Mound due to ice jams.  Water levels on the lake have risen quickly and are threatening some cottages.  Officials are responding as required.
• In addition, a flood warning is in place along the Assiniboine River from Miniota to Brandon.  A flood warning is issued when river levels are exceeding the banks and a flood is expected.   
• Aflood watch has been issued for the Assiniboine River from Millwood to Miniota.  A flood watch is issued when river levels approach the bank and are likely to overflow.
• Flooding in these areas is expected to primarily affect agricultural land.
• A flood watch was downgraded to a high water advisory for the Whitemud River.
• High water advisories are continued for:
  • streams in the Parkland region from the Duck Mountains to Gladstone;
  • the Pembina River;
  • the Swan River and tributaries; and
  • smaller tributaries and drains in southeast and south-central Manitoba.
• A high water advisory is issued when a heavy storm or high flows are expected and may cause water levels to rise but not necessarily exceed the banks.
• Warmer temperatures today and over the weekend will increase melting and run-off, resulting in higher flows in rivers in western Manitoba.  The snowpack is expected to be gone in most areas of the province by the end of the weekend.

Red River

• A new forecast for the Red River has downgraded expected water levels. A peak flow of 45,000 to 55,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) is expected at Emerson between May 7 and 11.
• With the current forecast, it is possible PTH 75 at Morris may not have to close.      
• Flows on all Red River tributaries are either stable or declining.
• Water levels at James Avenue dropped to 18 feet this morning. The operation of the Red River Floodway and Portage diversion are maintaining stable levels in Winnipeg. 

Assiniboine River

• The Assiniboine River is now ice free and flows on the river east of the Portage Diversion were increased to 8,000 cfs at noon.  This will reduce flows through the diversion to 5,000 cfs by tomorrow morning.
• Flows through the fail-safe area have reduced substantially and are anticipated to stop with the reduced flows.
• The Fairford control structure has been at maximum discharge since 2005 and will continue to be at maximum discharge through this spring run-off event.

Western Region

• Flows on the upper Pembina River are beginning to decrease at most points from La Rivière downstream, but a second, slightly-higher peak in the Manitoba section of the watershed is expected.
• Flows on the Manitoba portion of the Souris River are beginning to increase slightly at the present time.  Based on recent satellite imagery, the snowpack across the Souris River basin has largely melted.
• Levels on the Whitemud River are dropping upstream of Gladstone.  Water levels at Woodside and Westbourne are declining but it is expected that inflows from the Big Grass Marsh will maintain these levels.

Parkland and Swan River Region

• Warming temperatures will increase run-off in this region.  Flows on most rivers are currently stable but are expected to rise through the weekend.

The Pas/Kelsey Region

• Saskatchewan is decreasing outflows from the Tobin Reservoir to the Saskatchewan River.  The outflows are expected to be further reduced before they reach Manitoba, as the river passes through the Cumberland Marsh.
• Flows at The Pas are expected to be high, but remain within the banks.  A new forecast for the Saskatchewan River is expected next week.

Flood Response

• Arthur, Cornwallis, Coldwell, Westbourne and Cameron municipalities have declared states of local emergency.  A state of local emergency allows the municipality to respond quickly to flood situations.