FRANCAIS

November 01, 2005

As winter approaches, it is time to recognize the provincial and municipal efforts to combat high-water events across Manitoba, Water Stewardship Minister Steve Ashton said today.

"Two seasons of unusually wet weather resulting in unprecedented flooding and high-water levels on lakes and rivers across Manitoba has tested the resolve of the people of our province. 2005 will be remembered as the year of the summer flood," said Ashton. "In fact, flooding this past spring and summer has used more provincial and municipal resources and impacted more areas of the province than the Flood of the Century in 1997. Flooding problems stretched all the way from the U.S. boundary to the Churchill River and from the western to the eastern boundaries of Manitoba."

The severe weather this past summer resulted in at least six storms with heavy rain and flash flooding. In total, 15 flood or flash-flood watches or warnings were issued. A number of less-intense rain storms also added to flooding conditions due to the already wet ground.

"Starting last spring, the challenges presented by the unusually wet weather and high water required a tremendous effort from provincial and municipal workers and volunteers operating at full capacity to maximize flood-fighting efforts," said Ashton. "We extend a special thank you to the many volunteers who answered the call for assistance, especially to the students who participated in making sandbags."

A number of flood-fighting efforts were managed by the province including:

·         construction of the 13.6-kilometre Ralls Island dike at The Pas,

·         around-the-clock use of 22 pieces of heavy equipment in The Pas,

·         provision of approximately 500,000 sand bags to protect family residences in and around The Pas,

·         pumping of approximately 23.3 billion gallons of water from the Pasquia Valley area near The Pas,

·         over 100 pieces of heavy equipment used around Lake Winnipeg,

·         inspection of the entire Lake Winnipeg diking system constructed in 1974,

·         repair and construction of approximately 43 kms of dikes and the use of sandbags to protect 200 km of the Lake Winnipeg south basin shoreline,

·         operation of the Winnipeg floodway in the spring and the unprecedented summer operation of the floodway to prevent flooding within Winnipeg,

·         operation of the Shellmouth Dam and Portage Diversion in the spring and summer,

·         use of community ring dikes and ensuring continuous operation of pumps within the dikes,

·         breaking of ice jams on the Red River with the use of the Amphibex ice-breaking machine this spring and allocation by the province of funding support to buy a machine for permanent use by municipalities and the province, and

·         summer operation of many smaller dams and diversions such as the Pelican Lake outlet to reduce water levels.

"Since the 1997 flood, Manitoba has improved or created a number of permanent flood-fighting structures," said Ashton. "The ongoing high-water concerns this year resulted in the unusual and rare situation of having to activate structures such as community ring dikes during the summer."

As part of the continuing effort to better prepare for and manage potential future flooding events, the province will assess actions taken to combat spring and summer flooding, the unusually high levels of Lake Winnipeg and wind-driven high-water events experienced this year.

"We are building on the success of flood-prevention measures such as the Ralls Island diking effort at The Pas and the Lake Winnipeg waterfront community emergency-diking system," said the minister. "The assessment will give us information we need to prepare for future flood-fighting efforts."

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FLOOD-FIGHTING FACT SHEET

2005 FLOODING FACT SHEET

Unusually wet weather resulted in high water levels on lakes and rivers and unprecedented widespread flooding across Manitoba in the spring and summer of 2005.

Severe weather included six severe storms with heavy rain and flash flooding. The province issued 15 flooding or flash-flood watches or warnings. A number of less-intense rain storms also added to flooding conditions due to the already wet ground.

The past months of flooding affected more areas of the province and lasted longer than the 1997 flood, most of which was contained in the Red River Valley. Flash flooding occurred on many smaller streams due to intense rain.

Weather

Intense Rainstorms Causing Flooding

• June 1 - Melita, Oak Lake, Strathclair, 150 mm
• June 26 - Portage la Prairie, Lavenham, 175 mm
• July 2 – R.M. of Franklin, 100 mm of intense rain in two hours
• July 7 - Brandon, 70 mm of intense rain
• July 16 and 17 - South Winnipeg, 90 mm in one hour
• Sept. 10 - Pasquia area near The Pas, 150 mm in four hours

Monthly and Seasonal Rainfall

Southern Manitoba:

• Wettest month - June, 200 to 400 per cent of average
• Second wettest - July, 200 to 225 per cent

Northern Manitoba:

• Wettest months - July to September, 200 per cent of average precipitation in many areas

Thompson:

• January to September 2005 had the highest recorded rainfall in the past 30 years
• The Pas, 447.9 mm of precipitation prior to Sept. 30 (average 293.4 mm)

Alberta-Saskatchewan (for those rivers which flow easterly to Manitoba):

• Alberta - up to 600 per cent of average in southern areas in June, 200 per cent in September
• Saskatchewan - 300 per cent of average rain in northern areas in July and August

Water Levels

Rivers

Highest or second highest summer levels for the past 30 years:

• Red River
• Assiniboine River
• Souris River
• Pembina River
• Saskatchewan River
• Nelson River
• Churchill River (all-time high)

There were unusually high summer levels on many tributaries of the Red, Assiniboine and Souris rivers and smaller streams in the southern Interlake and eastern Manitoba. Significant over-bank flows and flooding occurred along most of these rivers.

Lakes

Highest summer levels for past 30 years:

• Lake Winnipeg
• Split Lake
• Whitewater Lake
• Pelican Lake
• Rock Lake
• Cross Lake
• Gods Lake
• Lake Wanipigow
• Shoal Lake (Interlake)

Unusually high summer levels:

• Lake Manitoba
• Dauphin Lake
• Lake St. Martin
• Reindeer Lake
• Cedar Lake
• Southern Indian Lake

Flood management

Emergency Flood Control Measures

Lake Winnipeg Flood Protection

• Inspection and assessment of dike system constructed in 1974
• Earth dikes completed - 35 km
• Sand bag dikes completed - eight km
• Sand bags delivered - 200,000
• Super sand bags delivered - 2,700
• Flood tubing used - 1.03 km

Northwest Region 

Ralls Island Dike:

• Length of the dyke - 13.6 kilometres
• Sand bags - approximately 500,000 sent to protect residences
• Heavy equipment - approximately 22 pieces used around the clock

Pasquia Area Pumping:

• Pumping began April 8, operated as required
• Total hours pumps operated 8,910 - previous record 4,039 hours in 1997
• Total days at all pump stations - 817
• Approximately 23.3 billion gallons of water pumped out of the Carrot Valley

Summer Operation of Flood Control Works

• Red River Floodway
• Portage Diversion
•  Shellmouth Reservoir
• Fairford Dam
• Mossy River Dam
• Pelican Lake Diversion.
• municipal water supply dams
• community ring dikes

Emergency Measures Organization

Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA)

• 4,632 claims to date
• Projected total 4,800
• Four times the average DFA program
• Approximately 2,800 claims inspected to date
• Approximately 150 to 200 claims inspected per week
• 38 term staff hired to administer this program
• Priority inspection given to property with structural issues