City closes boat launches, riverwalk after Westman storms raise river levels

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This article was published 10/07/2020 (2253 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

City boat launches are closed to the public as both the Red and Assiniboine rivers have risen in the wake of southwest Manitoba flooding.

The Red at James Avenue was 14.38 feet Friday; 15 feet is informally considered minor flood territory.

“All City of Winnipeg boat launches are closed due to the high water and unforeseen objects below the water at the launches,” city corporate communications manager David Driedger said in an email statement. The city did not accommodate an interview request Friday morning.

“The launches will remain closed until river levels reach normal levels. In addition, due to the high water level on the Assiniboine River, the city’s portion of the riverwalk, from the Legislative Building staircase to the canopy under the rail line near Main Street near The Forks, is closed and barricades are in place,” Driedger said in the statement.

City crews had got as far as removing silt and debris left by previous flooding before river levels climbed again, he said.

“The riverwalk will remain closed until the river recedes, at which time crews will resume restoration work on the riverwalk so it can be reopened to the public.”

Recent heavy rain and storms dumped more than 220 millimetres of water in communities west of Winnipeg, triggering flooding in Minnedosa, Brandon, Neepawa and surrounding areas earlier this month. Provincial Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler described the walloping storms and subsequent high water as a one-in-1,000-year event.

The Red has peaked at all locations between Winnipeg and Emerson and, barring a major rainstorm in Manitoba and the U.S. portion of the river basin, levels are expected to continue to decline, the province said.

Christopher Love, water smart co-ordinator with the Lifesaving Society Manitoba, said people venturing out to the banks of the Assiniboine and Red rivers need to be aware of strong, unpredictable currents, large pieces of debris and unstable ground that accompany high-water events.

“The river banks are potentially, in certain locations, where the high-water levels and the current that is happening with those rivers is going to undercut the bank,” Love said. “You might think you’re five or seven metres away from the water, but because of the added weight you put on top of the bank, it’s now going to slump or collapse into the river. Certainly that is a concern.”

Boaters also need to be equipped with safety equipment, including personal flotation devices, paddles and an anchor, he said.

“There’s a huge amount of debris that is in the water right now,” he said. “If you’re travelling at speed with a power boat on the river, and hit something that is below the surface that could cause damage to the hull that makes your boat sink… or depending on the speed or object, you could crash into the shore because your boat is redirected or it could cause your boat to flip or capsize.”

Kevin Wood, assistant manager at the Fishin’ Hole on Regent Avenue, said shore fishing on the Red and Assiniboine continues to be popular and advised urban anglers to ensure the bank is stable, to keep an eye out for storm outlets and consider having children wear life-jackets.

“Pay attention to what you’re doing, to your footing, fish with someone else and let someone know where you’re going and when you’ll be back, just to play it safe,” Wood said.

“If you’re not comfortable along the river or you feel it’s a little fast, there are plenty of other places around… like the La Salle or the Seine River will be high, but they won’t be flowing as fast.”

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service also recommends people keep their dogs leashed along riverbanks and don’t go boating or swimming while impaired by alcohol, cannabis or any other substances.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca