Manitoba Water Stewardship

Eastern Manitoba:

A flood advisory continues for areas from St. Anne to Whitemouth and Whiteshell Provincial Park. Monday night’s downpours of 50-75 mm are causing significant rises in streams and lakes. Lakes in the Whiteshell continue to rise and have reached near record levels, creating serious problems for boathouses, some low-lying cottages and some campgrounds. Some roads in the Whiteshell are overtopped. Levels are likely to rise for a few more days and will remain high until mid July even with favourable weather from now on. Logs have been removed from most dams controlling levels in the Whiteshell. An attempt will be made to remove additional logs from White Lake Dam today to reduce flooding of PR 307 and the local campground.

The level of Bird Lake continues to decline slowly despite significant rainfall during the past 10 days.

Lakes along the Winnipeg River are at near normal levels. Lake Of The Woods still remains below its average level for this time of year.

Red River Watershed:

A high water level advisory continues for the Red River.

The Red River rose about one foot from Emerson to the Floodway Inlet during the 24 hour period ending this morning. Rises from Winnipeg to Selkirk were about 0.7 feet. The river level in downtown Winnipeg stood at 15.7 feet this morning, 9.3 feet above the normal summer level. The river level in downtown Winnipeg is expected to rise to between 16.3 and 16.6 feet by late this week and then decline very slowly during the long weekend.

The Portage Diversion continues to be operated to reduce flows on the Assiniboine River. The Diversion flow this morning was 2100 cubic feet per second (cfs) while the flow down the river at Portage La Prairie was 3500 cfs. The diversion flow will be increased until the flow in the river subsides to the normal summer flow of about 1000 cfs. Without operation of the Portage Diversion, river levels in the City of Winnipeg would rise about one foot higher than presently predicted. Some flow is also expected to naturally flow into the Red River Floodway beginning later today.

Predicted crests in rural areas of the Red River were revised upward yesterday due recent rains but there is no further change in the forecast today. Additional rises of three feet above this morning’s levels are expected from Emerson to St. Norbert while further rises of 1-2 feet area expected in areas north of Lockport. Additional rises in downtown Winnipeg will be about one foot.

Flooding of some low-lying agricultural lands is expected in the area from Letellier to St. Jean but elsewhere the river will remain within its banks. While this is one of the largest summer events for the Red River, peak stages will still be significantly lower than those of the record summer flood of 2005.

A high water level advisory for portions of the Pembina River watershed from Lena to Snowflake continues. This area received up to 100 mm of rain Sunday night and eastern portions received an additional 20 mm last night. Localized flooding is underway and some small streams may reach bankfull capacity. Flooding is not expected along the mainstem of the Pembina River and the level of Rock Lake is not expected to rise more than 3 feet above this morning’s level. No problems are anticipated in the Gretna area.

A flood sheet for the Red River is attached.

Assiniboine River:

The Shellmouth Reservoir water level this morning was 1410.5 feet with a spillway flow of 1770 cfs. The higher level today is in large part due to a north wind over the lake. The reservoir level, inflow and outflow are expected to decline slowly from now on unless additional heavy rain develops. Saskatchewan Water Authority continues to restrict outflows from Good Spirit Lake to reduce flows at Kamsack but this is likely to end later this week.

The reservoir inflow this morning is estimated at 1600 cfs. There has been no flow through the conduit since 10 a.m. June 7 but conduit flow may resume this Friday to maintain outflows between 1500 and 1600 cfs.

A flood sheet for the Assiniboine River is attached.

Northwest:

High water and localized flooding continue in the Dauphin and Duck Mountain region due to recent heavy rains, but streams should subside during the next few days.

Lake Winnipegosis is presently at its highest level since the mid 1950’s. Additional shoreline flooding could occur in low areas if strong winds develop during the next six weeks.

Water levels remain very high in the Saskeram area west-northwest of The Pas. While no homes are flooded, there are continued difficulties with cattle due to flooded pastures.