Most Manitoba basins have just a low to moderate risk of flooding this spring, the province said Tuesday in its initial 2023 flood outlook.
The province’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre reported a moderate risk of flooding along the Red and Assiniboine rivers, and in the Interlake region along the Fisher and Icelandic rivers. The risk of spring flooding is generally low along several other rivers including the Souris, Roseau, Rat and Pembina, with water levels expected to remain below community flood protection levels.
There is also a low risk of flooding for most other Manitoba basins including the Saskatchewan River, Whiteshell lakes area and northern Manitoba. With the exceptions of Dauphin Lake and Lake St. Martin, most Manitoba lakes, including Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba, are projected to remain within operating ranges after the spring run-off.
A provincial release said ice cutting and breaking is also currently underway on the Red River north of Winnipeg and expected to be completed by March 14. Ice-cutting and breaking work on the Icelandic River is scheduled to start March 17. Ice cutting and breaking is not being undertaken this spring on the Assiniboine River, along the Portage Diversion, due to a lower risk of ice-jam related flooding.
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