March 31, 2004

·        Boil Water Advisory for Some Flooded Areas

·        Red River Floodway Gates to Operate Today or Tomorrow

·        Flood Potential High for Fisher, Icelandic and Mantagao Rivers

The flood forecast for the Interlake has been updated to include the effect of last weekend’s rain.

·         The Interlake received close to 50 mm of rain last weekend, adding substantial moisture to an already heavy snowpack.

·         The flood potential is high for the Fisher, Icelandic and Mantagao rivers and many smaller streams such as Birch Creek and Partridge Creek.

·         Run-off in this area is likely to begin in the next few days as temperatures warm.  A heavy snowpack and cooler temperatures are slowing run-off.  However, crests on the Fisher River at the townsite and the Icelandic River at Arborg are unlikely to occur until the middle of next week at the earliest.  Crests could be delayed depending on weather conditions.

·         Crest magnitudes on the Fisher and Icelandic rivers will depend on the rate of melt and the amount of additional precipitation.  A gradual melt with cool spells between active melting and little additional precipitation would result in only minimal flooding.

·         Soil moisture and depression storage in the same area are quite low due to the dry summer and fall of 2003.  Water is expected to be absorbed by the soil and depressions, especially with a slow melt.  Under this condition, crests will be lower than those of 2001.  If a rapid, sustained melt develops, crests will exceed those of 2001 and could exceed those of 1986.  However, it is very unlikely that crest stages would reach those of the major floods of 1974 and 1979.

·         The Water Branch advises that the Red River Floodway gates will be operated sometime tonight or tomorrow.  The last time the floodway was operated was July 2002.

·         Water levels on the Red River between Emerson and Winnipeg are up about four feet over the last 24 hours.

·         At this time, the Red is expected to crest in the Winnipeg area on April 8.

Chief Medical Officer of Health

·         As a precautionary measure, the chief medical officer of health advises all people using water from wells or other sources affected by flooding to boil their water before consumption or to use alternative supplies of drinking water until flooding subsides and subsequent bacterial testing confirms the bacterial safety of their water supply.

·         A spill of raw sewage related to a sewer line break in Lac du Bonnet resulted in a small amount (less than 200 gallons) of untreated sewage flowing into the Winnipeg River system yesterday.  The spill was contained within one hour.  As the river is currently covered with ice, it is not likely sewage has permeated to the water underneath.  Once the ice melts, it is believed any increased risk to public health or environment will be minimal due to significant dispersion and dilution of contaminants.

·         The public is reminded that drinking untreated surface water at any time is unsafe.  All surface water used for drinking should be treated or boiled before consumption.  Water can be treated by bringing it to a rolling boil for at least one minute.  It can then be used for drinking, washing vegetables or fruit, brushing teeth, etc.

·         More information about water safety is available at the Manitoba Health website http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/cmoh/water.html or from Health Canada at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/water/factsheets/away_home.htm

Emergency Response

Manitoba EMO has been in regular contact with over 50 municipalities since Friday and is collecting preliminary impact statements from the municipalities to determine the extent of damage and if a Disaster Financial Assistance program will be necessary.

Farmers, ranchers and residents of flooded areas concerned with the well-being of livestock or other animals on their property or needing assistance to reach them should contact municipal officials as soon as possible.

                                                                                      - 30 -