Archived News Releases

April 28, 2014

• Fisher River Cree Nation
  • AANDC advises ninehomes have been protected.  No other homes require flood protection at this time.      
  • The province delivered 80 Tiger Tube dams to the community. 
  • As of earlier today, observed river levels have dropped by approximately one foot.
• Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Reserve
• • AANDC advisesthe Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Reserve is experiencing localized flooding from the Duck Mountains due to heavy rainfall in the area.
  • The flooding has washed out six access roads.  While no homes are at risk, officials continue to monitor and assess the situation.

 Warnings and Advisories

• Flood warnings are in place for:
  • all points along the Birdtail Creek downstream of PTH 45, due to a failing embankment that will lead to a surge of water on the creek;
  • the Assiniboine River from the Shellmouth Dam to Brandon, due to high flows;
  • all points along the Little Saskatchewan River, due to high flows; and
  • all points along the Fisher River, due to high flows and possible ice effects.
• High water advisories continue for:
  • all points on Smith Creek, due to high flows; and
  • streams in the Interlake region, including the Icelandic River, due to rapid melt and high flows.

 Emergency Response

• States of local emergency have been declared in the rural municipalities of Westbourne, Hillsburg, Birtle and Rossburn, and the towns of Roblin and Birtle.
• The province has deployed flood-fighting and mitigation equipment strategically across the province.  Regional staff are supervising and monitoring water levels in affected areas.

 Red River

• Water levels and flows on the Red River and on most tributaries in Manitoba are declining.
• The U.S. portion of the Red River is rising due to recent precipitation.
• In the U.S., a flood warning was issued for the Red River at Fargo effective today.  However, flows are expected to be well within the banks by the time it reaches Manitoba.

Roseau River

• The Roseau River is slowly rising at most locations.  The river is free of ice and water levels are expected to stay well within bank.

Assiniboine River                                                        

• The water level on the Shellmouth Reservoir has increased to 1,404.1 feet; the summer target level is 1402.5 ft. and the spillway is at 1408.5 ft.
• Inflows to the reservoir are approximately 10,580 cubic feet per second (cfs) (300 cubic metres per second or cms) and outflows are at 1,730 cfs (49 cms).  Inflow to the reservoir appears to have crested and is beginning to decline.
• Provincial officials and the Shellmouth Operation Liaison Committee have approved increasing outflows from the Shellmouth Reservoir to hit a target outflow of 5,000 cfs by tomorrow evening.
• This operation is in keeping with the guidelines, which are specific for each season, and in the spring call for outflows to be increased to keep reservoir levels below the spillway, if possible.
• The lower Assiniboine River is reported to be free of ice and, as a result, the Portage Diversion will be operated to allow more flow down the lower Assiniboine River.
• As of this morning, flow on the Portage Diversion is 7,790 cfs (221 cms) and flow on the Assiniboine River downstream of the diversion is 6,450 cfs (183 cms).
• Flows on the Assiniboine River downstream of the diversion will be increased to approximately 8,000 cfs today.

Souris River

• Saskatchewan and North Dakota are co-ordinating releases from dams upstream on the Souris River.
• A flood warning has been issued for the Souris River in the U.S. part of the watershed.
• Water levels in Manitoba are expected to increase but remain within bank.

Whitemud River

• Flows and water levels on the Whitemud River are stable or dropping; all locations are within bank.

 Parkland Region

• In general, streams in the Dauphin area are stable or dropping while streams further north are increasing; all streams remain within bank.
• Water levels on Dauphin Lake are above the desired level and rising due to high inflows.  The ice remains solid at this time and conditions are being monitored.                                                                                       

The Pas and Northern Manitoba

• The Saskatchewan, Carrot and Red Deer rivers are continuing to rise.  It is reported that ice is beginning to lift and move on the Saskatchewan River.  Conditions are being monitored.

Spring Safety

People are reminded:

• to be watchful of local waterways as flood conditions can develop quickly and ice conditions may be unsafe,
• to avoid crossing areas with broken ice and surface water,
• not to drive or walk through fast-moving water, and
• to call 511 to check road conditions before travelling.

Questions or concerns about flooding or water management should be directed first to the municipal authority.  Anyone with questions about water levels, provincial waterways or provincial water control infrastructure can call 204-945-8373 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., seven days a week.

Up-to-date flood information can be found at www.gov.mb.ca/flooding/, on mobile devices at www.manitoba.ca or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MBGov.

Up-to-date road information is available at www.mb511.ca, on mobile devices at www.manitoba.ca, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MBGovRoads or by calling 511.

- 30 -