Floodway gates raised; homes saved
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/04/2009 (6267 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
At least 100 homes in south Winnipeg were spared from flooding because the floodway gates were partially raised on Wednesday, provincial officials said yesterday, citing city estimates.
The province partially raised the gates some more yesterday morning in a bid to stabilize river levels within Winnipeg to 20 feet at James Avenue.
Steve Topping, the province’s chief flood fighter, said further action was needed because of ice build-up at the floodway inlet as well as inside the floodway channel.
He estimated that ice within the floodway had reduced its water flow capacity by 30 per cent, although he added that several pieces of equipment have been deployed to reduce the problem.
The province expects that with ice persisting in the city water ways, it’s possible that the Red River level in downtown Winnipeg could reach 21.5 feet by noon tomorrow. This would be equivalent to about 23 feet in southern portions of the city.
Properties in the city have been protected to the equivalent of 23.5 feet at James Avenue.
The first crest in Winnipeg is expected to occur today, but could take place somewhat later depending on when the ice moves, officials said.
Steve Ashton, minister responsible for the emergency measures organization, told the legislature yesterday afternoon that there continues to be "a significant risk of serious ice jams in the city that could increase river levels by up to three feet in three or four hours."
The province undertook the unusual action of operating the floodway with ice still in place in order to prevent imminent flooding in the city of Winnipeg, he said.
"This operation is in accordance with the floodway operating rules and is not expected to raise river levels upstream of the floodway inlet above their natural level," he told his fellow MLAs.
Provincial officials define "natural level" as where water levels would be without the floodway or any other flood protection measures, including diverting Assiniboine River water through the Portage diversion into Lake Manitoba.
"If emergency conditions arise, consideration will be given to a variation of the floodway operating rules in accordance with the floodway’s environment act licence to authorize additional rises of the floodway gates to avoid imminent flooding in Winnipeg," Ashton said.
larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
