City of Winnipeg Continues Preparing for Rising River Levels
Number of at-risk properties from river flooding reduced
Released: 3:22 p.m.
NEWS @ A GLANCE:
Currently the James Avenue level is at 13.9 feet and is expected to reach 20 feet by late Thursday, March 26, 2009, due to ice conditions on the Red River. The City of Winnipeg is preparing for a water level of 20.5 feet James. (for more details, please read the full media release below)
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WINNIPEG - March 24, 2009 - Currently the James Avenue level is at 13.9 feet and is expected to reach 20 feet by late Thursday, March 26, 2009, due to ice conditions on the Red River.
Grant Mohr, Land Drainage and Flood Protection Planning Engineer with the City’s Water and Waste Department, says, “City crews have been surveying and staking the 34 properties at risk for 20 feet James Avenue. Sandbag deliveries has begun for these at-risk properties. It is estimated that about 24,000 sandbags will be required for these properties.”
The most recent update from the Province indicates that the peak in Winnipeg from the water flowing from the US will be in the range of 19 to 20.5 feet James April 12 – 17. For comparison, the 2006 level was 20.4 at James Avenue.
This new information means a reduction in the original number of at-risk properties from 292 to about 70.
With more precipitation expected today and in the coming days, the City is monitoring the situation closely.
The City of Winnipeg is preparing for a water level of 20.5 feet James. For that level, 33 flood pumping stations will be activated and about 200 flood control gates will be operational. In addition, there will be 32 temporary pumping locations set up.
Residents who live along the river should move or secure any structures or equipment near the water’s edge, such as docks, sheds, gazebos, irrigation pumps, and recreational equipment.
Citizens are urged to:
- take care and use caution around rivers and bodies of water
- check sump pumps and backwater valves on an on-going basis
More information is available on the following web pages:
City of Winnipeg EmergWeb
winnipeg.ca/emergweb/
Flood Forecast
winnipeg.ca/waterandwaste/drainageFlooding/floodForecast2009.stm
Building a Dike
winnipeg.ca/emergWeb/Flood/BuildingADike.stm
Winnipeg’s Primary Dike System
winnipeg.ca/emergweb/Flood/PrimaryDike.stm
Protect Your Home from Basement Flooding
winnipeg.ca/waterandwaste/drainageFlooding/basementFlooding.stm
James Avenue Datum
winnipeg.ca/services/CityLife/HistoryOfWinnipeg/flood/james_ave_datum.stm
Current River Levels
winnipeg.ca/publicworks/pwddata/riverlevels/
Sandbag Information
winnipeg.ca/publicworks/streets/StreetsMaintenance.asp
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