June 09, 2006

The rural municipalities (RM) of Gimli and St. Andrews have signed agreements with the Province of Manitoba to provide permanent flood protection measures along Lake Winnipeg, Water Stewardship Minister Steve Ashton announced today.

"We are pleased the RMs of Gimli and St. Andrews are partnering in a program with the province to develop permanent protection for waterfront communities and property," said Ashton. "It’s also an opportunity to provide protection for property owners who normally may not be eligible for compensation by the Disaster Financial Assistance programs or private insurance."

"This program, like the purchase of the Amphibex ice-breaking machine, shows the willingness of this provincial government to work alongside municipalities in a proactive manner to provide long-term solutions," said Don Forfar, reeve of RM of St. Andrews.

"The storms we experienced last year demonstrated the value of these dikes along the south basin of Lake Winnipeg and the security they provide," said Gimli mayor Kevin Chudd. "Community specific solutions are now being sought for all property owners."

Temporary earthen dikes were constructed last fall under emergency circumstances as RMs and private landowners faced flooding from high water and potential wind storms.

The temporary dikes will be used as the foundations for permanent dikes. This new permanent diking system provides further protection complementing the 100 kilometres of dikes constructed over 30 years ago to protect against wind-driven high water.

The scope of the work in this program includes:

• reshaping existing earthen dikes for use as a base for permanent protection;

• application of topsoil, grading to provide gentler slopes if possible and planting grass seed along dikes; and

• repairing identified damage that occurred during emergency dike construction in the fall.

Manitoba will fund the Lake Winnipeg protective dike system on a cost-shared basis with participating municipalities as it did with flood protection works for communities in the Red River Valley after the 1997 flood.

"Manitoba will pick up 90 per cent of the costs of these measures as we convert the eligible temporary dikes along the south basin into permanent structures," said Ashton. "Through partnership with municipalities, we will minimize the destructive impact of future storms on area residents and their properties."

Access agreements have been mailed directly to property owners in both rural municipalities. RMs are asking property owners to return completed forms without delay. Questions regarding the dike program can be directed to RM offices or the project office in Gimli 1-204-642-6678.

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