Province ‘optimistic’ after tests of Rivers dam

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This article was published 14/07/2020 (1908 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BRANDON — Remaining Westman flood evacuees are being allowed to return home, after tests showed there was “no substantial amount of damage” at the dam at Lake Wahtopanah, the province says.

As a result of these tests, the province said Monday it had “restored confidence” in the structure. Probing work on the dam at Rivers, 30 kilometres north of Brandon, was completed Saturday.

“We’re cautiously optimistic,” Manitoba Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler told the Sun via phone. “The current level (of water) are such that they’re within its designed operating level.”

He said engineers are still waiting for the water flow through the dam to recede enough that it is no longer going down the spillway so that a more complete inspection can be carried out. Until that happens, the province won’t issue a complete bill of health.

“We’ll probably need to spend some money and look at what needs to be done going forward, but I think what’s important is to focus on the here and now,” Schuler said. “Now we’ve gotten restored confidence in the dam.”

Part of the inspection work on the dam will also include taking a look at the pipe that carries water from the top of the spillway to the river below when the water level is below the lip of the spillway. Divers will be required for that work and to take a look at the dam on the side that touches the lake, the province said.

The news means evacuees downstream will now be allowed to return home.

As of July 10, there were 53 people evacuated from Riverdale Municipality and 17 from the Rural Municipality of Whitehead. The Sun was unable to reach the mayor of Riverdale nor the reeve of Whitehead for comment.

There is no longer a set period of time when motorists can use the bridge that crosses the Little Saskatchewan River along Highway 25 in Rivers. However, motorists are asked not to stop along the road anywhere between Road 119 West and Road 120 West.

Schuler said it is still too early to put a dollar value on the damage done to area infrastructure in recent rainstorms.

The latest online hydrologic data from the federal government shows the water level in Lake Wahtopanah at 469.189 metres above sea level as of 8:10 p.m. Sunday. That’s down from the peak of 471.022 the lake swelled to on Canada Day.

Meanwhile, the City of Brandon is being cautious when it comes to its flood preparedness plans.

In a release Monday afternoon, the city said after consultation with the Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization and out of an abundance of caution, it will be keeping the clay dike plug along 18th Street North at Grand Valley Road in place until further notice while the water in Lake Wahtopanah is still in a flood stage.

For the same reason, businesses and residents given evacuation preparation notices close to the Assiniboine River are asked to stay ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice.

— Brandon Sun