April 05, 2004

Water Branch – River Forecast Centre

Water levels along the Red River from Winnipeg north have stabilized or are dropping. To the south of Winnipeg, levels continue to rise from Emerson to the floodway inlet. The crest is expected in that area later this week.

• Winnipeg levels crested April 3 at 18.7 feet. The level is expected to remain stable for most of this week between 18 and 18.5 feet with the operation of the floodway.
• The current flow into the Red River Floodway is 20,900 cubic feet per second (cfs). At the peak of the 1997 flood, the rate was approximately 66,000 cfs.
• The ice jam that caused temporary high water levels around Breezy Point has moved north to the base of Lake Winnipeg. Red River levels have dropped 2.7 feet in the past 24 hours and 1.3 feet in the Town of Selkirk.

The ice has broken on the lower Assiniboine River and is flowing into the Red River at The Forks.

• A slight, temporary rise was recorded overnight but the Assiniboine has since dropped.
• The Portage Diversion continues to operate to direct flows north to Lake Manitoba. Diversion flows were 3,700 cfs this morning.

Run-off in the Interlake area is just getting underway. Specific reports and updated forecasts will be available tomorrow.

• 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 at 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.

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