Assiniboine River to peak at Portage

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This article was published 13/04/2017 (3128 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As overland flooding subsides across southern Manitoba, the Assiniboine River continues to rise — with its peak expected to reach Portage la Prairie today, the province’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre said in its latest flood bulletin.

As of Wednesday morning, the flow on the Portage Diversion channel was almost 24,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), declining to 13,000 cfs downstream of the diversion that channels Assiniboine River water into Lake Manitoba.

A flood warning remained in effect for the upper Assiniboine to Holland from the Shellmouth Dam as the river crested at Holland at an estimated 39,000 cfs. Crews at the Portage Diversion completed preparations for emergency flows in excess of the structure’s design flow of 25,000 cfs, the province said Wednesday.

A flood watch is in place for the area from Portage la Prairie to Headingley as the water rises. Temporary protection measures were completed on the lower Assiniboine, officials said.

In Winnipeg, water levels at James Avenue were measured at 17.8 feet Wednesday morning. That number is expected to hold steady for the next few days due to action in the Assiniboine while flows in the Red River recede.

However, strong winds and rain is forecast across the province on the weekend, which could add to concerns.