May 29, 2013
Work Begins to Increase Outlet Capacity of Lake Manitoba
– – –Emergency Channel to be Made Permanent: Premier
The Manitoba government is beginning work on a new flood control infrastructure project that will protect people and property around Lake St. Martin and Lake Manitoba, Premier Greg Selinger announced today.
Funding for these projects will be provided through the Manitoba Building and Renewal Plan, said Selinger, adding the work includes building increased outlet capacity from Lake Manitoba, which requires first making the Lake St. Martin emergency channel permanent.
“We know investing in flood protection infrastructure pays off. The province has saved more than $30 billion in damages since the construction of the Red River Floodway and the ring dikes protecting communities in the Red River Valley,” said Selinger. “Our Manitoba Building and Renewal Plan will ensure we have the resources available to keep building flood protection for families and businesses.”
In an independent report, the Lake Manitoba Lake St. Martin Regulation Review Committee recommended that an additional outlet be constructed on Lake Manitoba to deal with inflows from the Portage Diversion, on the condition that long-standing flooding issues on Lake St. Martin be resolved first. The province has accepted that recommendation and is beginning work to make the Lake St. Martin Emergency Channel permanent, the premier said, adding assessment of design and location options for an additional Lake Manitoba outlet is also underway.
Provincial officials have informed the federal government of the proposal to make the emergency channel permanent and KGS Group Consulting Engineers are already working on design plans for increasing Lake Manitoba outlet capacity, Selinger said.
Initial estimates calculate the total cost for both projects to be in excess of $250 million.
“During the largest flood in Manitoba history, the emergency channel brought Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin back to regulatory levels within a matter of months,” said the premier. “We know these two projects will be even more effective in regulating water levels on the lakes, protecting Manitobans from increasingly severe and unpredictable weather.”
In April, the independent 2011 Flood Review Task Force and the Lake Manitoba Lake St. Martin Regulation Review Committee provided the Manitoba government with 126 recommendations for strengthening future flood protection, all of which were accepted. The premier said, as a result of ongoing internal reviews and initiatives, the government has already begun work on or completed more than 75 per cent of the recommendations. The total cost to implement all recommendations is estimated to be more than $1 billion.
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NOTE: Figures used at today’s news conference, along with photos and video of the Lake St. Martin
emergency channel, are available at www.gov.mb.ca/flooding/2011/gallery/index.html.
Maps can be found at: www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/newslinks/2013/05/lake_manitoba_outlet.pdf.