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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

$57M to combat spring flooding

Federal, provincial governments target north Red River, Peguis

By: Larry Kusch

Posted: 08/28/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Enlarge Image

Duncan Allan believes the widening of the floodway prompted flooding in his area.

Flood-prone home and business owners -- particularly those along the Red River north of Winnipeg and at Peguis First Nation -- are in line for some badly needed protection.

Although details are yet to be announced, the province said Friday it will cover flood-proofing projects of up to $100,000 for homeowners, farmers and other business owners, provided the individuals pay 14 per cent of the costs.

Where the money goes

Provincial funding:

$9.8 million to help high-risk Manitoba homeowners, business owners and farmers -- particularly along the Red River north of Winnipeg -- flood-proof their properties.

$6.6 million to conduct feasibility assessments for new community ring dikes north of Winnipeg and improve flood forecasting and ice-jam mitigation.

$1.1 million to upgrade drainage along Provincial Road 224 near the Peguis and Fisher River First Nations to mitigate flood risks in those communities.

Federal-provincial funding:

$14.4 million to build community ring dikes along the Red River north of Winnipeg;

$6.8 million to rehabilitate the Portage Diversion control structures along the Assiniboine River;

$8 million for improvements to the Shellmouth Dam;

$200,000 to continue work on a flood protection project at Melita;

$10 million over four years to seal-coat pavement over two sections of the Trans-Canada Highway: a four-kilometre west-bound stretch near Portage la Prairie, and a 13.5-km two-lane stretch from Falcon Lake to the Ontario border.

Also Friday, Ottawa and Manitoba pledged $14.4 million to build community dikes north of the city -- although work won't begin until feasibility assessments are completed and the affected municipalities set their construction priorities.

The two announcements were part of a package of federal-provincial flood protection and highway safety initiatives worth about $57 million unveiled by Premier Greg Selinger and Public Safety Minister Vic Toews on Friday.

"I know that they had to work hard because this was not in their budget to find this money for diking," said an appreciative Steve Strang, mayor of the Rural Municipality of St. Clements, which stands to gain from the announcements.

His municipality and the RM of St. Andrews were hard hit by flooding in the spring of 2009, an event that spurred the two senior levels of government to protect Red River communities north of Winnipeg just as they did south of the city following the 1997 Flood of the Century.

St. Andrews Reeve Don Forfar said community dikes are needed along two sections of River Road, at Breezy Point and along both sides of Netley Creek near Petersfield. He estimates 20 homes require protection along River Road and 10 to 20 homes need protection at Breezy Point.

But the big priority for the municipality is along Netley Creek, where flooding frequently impacts "well over 200 homes," Forfar said. "It's been proven two years in a row that the dike (along Netley Creek) is not high enough," he said, noting 60 homes were flooded there in 2009 and another three this past spring.

Duncan Allan, who lives along St. Peter's Road north of East Selkirk, said he's hoping to get some compensation for work he's already done to flood-proof his home.

"We've been playing Russian roulette the last six years and thankfully the bullet hasn't gone off yet," he said Friday, explaining what it's like to face annual flood risks without proper protection. Allan blames increased springtime water flows due to an expanded floodway for many of the area's flooding problems.

Selinger said details on who is eligible for flood-proofing assistance and how to apply for it will be available in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Chief Glenn Hudson said Friday he is pleased federal and provincial help will finally address the chronic flooding problems at Peguis First Nation.

Toews reiterated Ottawa's commitment Friday to flood-proof or relocate 75 homes in the community while pledging to work with the province and the First Nation on permanent flood-mitigation solutions.

"It's been a long time coming for our community and our people," Hudson said of the federal commitment. He estimates it will take more than $100 million over the long term to flood-proof his community, located 150 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

This year, 223 Peguis homes were damaged by overland flooding during summer rains. Hudson estimates 480 or more homes on the reserve need to be flood-proofed or relocated.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 28, 2010 A7

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