Flood Fighting in Manitoba
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Flood Fighting in Manitoba A History and Background of Manitoba’s Flood Protection Works Flood Fighting in Manitoba Southern Manitoba has extensive flood control Flood protection work has prevented property measures in place, particularly in the Red River damage and reduced the potential impact of Valley, from Winnipeg, south to the US border. flooding on families and communities. Since Flood controls were built after the devastating flood the 1997 flood, more than $1 billion has been of 1950, which flooded the Red River Valley and invested in flood mitigation efforts in Manitoba. the City of Winnipeg. Construction of the Red River This investment has prevented over $7 billion in Floodway was completed in 1968. Additional flood damages throughout Manitoba. control improvements, including an expansion of the The 2011 flood affected a large geographic floodway, were made after the Flood of the area and thousands of Manitobans. Early flood Century in 1997. This flood was substantially larger forecasts and flood-mitigation efforts helped many than the 1950 flood, but resulted in far less property communities get a head start on protecting homes damage because of the flood control measures in and lands, but damage was still widespread. place. There are also flood control measures along the Assiniboine River. Flood Control Infrastructure in Southern Manitoba DauDpahuinp hRiniv Reriver ! ! LakLeake FirsFt iNrsat tNioantion WaWterahteernhen WinWninipneigpoesgiossis LakLea kSet. SMta. rMtianrtin RivReriver DikDesikes " W"aWtearhteernhen LakLea kSet. 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Eemrseornson 18.1 G8.r eGtrneatna )"75)"75 KiloKmileotmeresters 0 0 25 25 50 50 75 75 100100 1"81"8 " 1"717 Flood Fighting in Manitoba 1 TOP TENTop MANI 10 RedTOBA River FLOODS Floods since SINCE 1800 1800 Red River at James Avenue, Winnipeg 250 225,000 200 165,000 163,000 150 128,000 125,000 116,000 108,000 108,000 108,000 100 99,000 50 36.5’ 34.5’ 34.4’ 32.5’ 32.2’ 31.2’ 30.3’ 30.3’ 30.3’ 28.5’ 0 1826 1852 *1997 *2009 1861 *2011 1950 *1979 *1996 *2006 NATURAL SPRING PEAK DISCHARGES NATURAL SPRING PEAK STAGES IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND (1000s) IN FEET ABOVE DATUM Red River at James Avenue, Winnipeg Red River at James Avenue, Winnipeg * Computed Natural Discharge Without Use Of Red River Floodway, Portage Diversion, Shellmouth Dam Compiled by Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship TOP 10Top ASSINIBOINE 10 Assiniboine RIVER River Floods FLOODS Since SINCE 1880s 1880s Assiniboine River at Portage la Prairie 70,000 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 *2011 1882 *1976 1904 1902 *1995 *1974 *2009 *1996 *1975 INFLOW TO PORTAGE RESERVOIR * Computed discharge without the use of Shellmouth reservoir as computed by WITHOUT SHELLMOUTH RESERVOIR Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship REGULATION 2 Flood Fighting in Manitoba Number of Homes Damaged During Spring Floods 12,000 10,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 Number 4,000 3,500 2,000 1,000 250 (Estimated) 0 1950 1997 2009 2011 Year of Flood Number of People Evacuated During Spring Floods Number of People Evacuated During Spring Floods 120,000 120,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 80,000 80,000 60,000 60,000 Evacuees 40,000 Evacuees 28,000 40,000 28,000 20,000 7,100 20,000 2,800 7,100 0 2,800 0 1950 1997 2009 2011 1950 1997 Year of Flood 2009 2011 Year of Flood Flood Fighting in Manitoba 3 Red River Floodway One of the most significant flood protection • The expansion of the current floodway system measures in Manitoba is the Red River Floodway, (including the West Dike and channel outlet) which protects the City of Winnipeg. Starting in began after the 1997 flood, to protect the City of 2005, Canada and Manitoba invested $665 million Winnipeg from a one-in-700-year flood. It increased to further expand the Red River Floodway. the floodway’s capacity – from 90,000 cfs (cubic • The original floodway was built between 1962 and feet per second) to 140,000 cfs. The floodway 1968 and cost $63 million. operates by diverting a portion of the Red River flow around Winnipeg through the floodway • At the time, excavation of the floodway channel channel. During flooding, as the river naturally was the second largest earth moving project in rises, it spills over the floodway channel entrance the world (second only to the Panama Canal and and flows down the floodway channel. When this larger than the Suez Canal project). happens, the river water flows through two routes • Since 1968, it has prevented more than $40 billion – through the city and through the floodway. At the same time, it drops below its natural level, south of (in 2011 dollars) in flood damage in Winnipeg. the floodway inlet. • It is often referred to as Duff’s Ditch in recognition of then-Premier Duff Roblin, who spearheaded the development of the floodway. Floodway gates during normal summer conditions Floodway gates raised to regulate water levels 4 Flood Fighting in Manitoba • When the floodway gates are raised, the water level south of the floodway inlet is restored to its natural level which, in turn, allows more water to spill into the floodway. As Red River flows continue to increase, the level south of the inlet drops below natural again and the gates are raised further. This process continues as long as the flow in the Red River continues to increase. • During the majority of floods, the floodway is operated to ensure that the water level south of the city is maintained at the natural level – that is the level that would occur if the flood control works did not exist. • In a major flood, even larger than 1997, the flow through the city will be controlled with the guidance of three spring floodway operating rules. These rules are designed to ensure Winnipeg’s primary diking system is not overwhelmed. When these rules are implemented to protect the city, there may Floodway inlet control structure south of Winnipeg be instances when additional water going through the floodway causes artificial flooding of land and roads south of the floodway inlet. In recognition of this possibility, the Manitoba government has legislation in place which provides compensation to individuals impacted by this artificial flooding. • A fourth floodway operating rule is also in place, but is only applied during the summer when high water levels affect Winnipeg’s storm sewer and combined sewer systems.