Lake Manitoba update: Feb. 28, 2021

With below average snowfall, we are seeing low lake levels and river flows heading in to the spring freshet. Lake Manitoba is down this week to 810.88 feet, and outflow at Fairford is also down to 1,353 cfs.  The inflow on the Waterhen is registering 194 cfs but these gauge readings are suspect. With the melting this week, the Whitemud has roared back to life and is now a torrent of 17 cfs. The level of Lake St. Martin continues its slow rise reaching 798.29 ft today. Flow on the Dauphin River is up modestly to 1,176 cfs. The level of Lake Winnipegosis is little changed at 830.27 feet. The Assiniboine at Holland is registering 1,084 cfs at Holland, and 766 cfs at Headingly. The level of the Shellmouth Reservoir has levelled off at 1397.05 feet.

River update

Time: February 28, 2021

Portage Diversion: closed

Assiniboine at Holland: 1,084 cfs

Assiniboine at Headingly: 766 cfs

Waterhen: 194 cfs (gauge reading suspect)

Whitemud: 17 cfs

Fairford: 1,353 cfs

Dauphin: 1,176 cfs

Lake update

Time: February 28, 2021

Steep Rock: 810.89 ft

Westbourne: 810.88 ft

Mean level Lake Manitoba: 810.88 ft

Lake Manitoba desired operating range: 810.5 to 812.5 ft

Lake St. Martin: 798.29 ft

Lake St. Martin desired operating range: 797.0 to 800.0 ft

Lake Winnipegosis: 830.27 ft

Shellmouth Reservoir: 1397.05 ft

Extracted from the Environment and Climate Change Canada Real-time Hydrometric Data web site (https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/mainmenu/real_time_data_index_e.html) on February 28, 2021.

Outlet Channels Project – February Newsletter and Fact Sheet on The Narrows & Lake St. Martin Outlet Channel Design Update

To view the February Newsletter from Manitoba Infrastructure visit and click on the February 2021 PDF file to view. To see the design update see the Engineer Design on the same site.

lmblsmoutlets/resources/reports.html

You no doubt have been confused of late with the news conference reported a couple of weeks back that indicated First Nations dissatisfaction with the design of the channel which they said would cause flooding at Lake St Martin. The design update addresses that issue.

The same press conference indicates that not enough consultation has occurred as part of the environmental review. One hardly knows what to conclude given the Premier’s assertion that over 250 consultation meetings have been held.

ALMS continues to seek help in clarifying progress from two opposition MPs James Bezan and Candice Bergen who represent areas hardest hit from the flood of 2011. We have asked which communities have “signed off’ on the project. It has been reported by the Province that there has been good progress and that 8 of 9 groups have signed agreements. We have heard from the Province and from Northern communities but Ottawa has not communicated to us, or through the press, information that would help us understand where we are at.

The process calls for consultation but clearly discussion and meetings more closely resemble conciliation and a prolonged negotiation. If this is the case then the communities along Lake Manitoba deserve a seat at the table.

In the tenth year since the flood of 2011, we seem to know less than we did when the project was first announced. We deserve better.

Jack King,

President, ALMS

Lake Manitoba update: Feb. 21, 2021

Another quiet week on the lakes and rivers. Lake Manitoba is down slightly to 810.91 feet. Outflow at Fairford is down slightly to 1,561 cfs.  The inflow on the Waterhen is registering just 176 cfs but these gauge readings are suspect. The gauge on the Whitemud is currently not reporting. The level of Lake St. Martin continues its slow rise reaching 798.17 ft today. Flow on the Dauphin River is down to 968 cfs. The level of Lake Winnipegosis is down slightly to 830.24 feet. The Assiniboine at Holland is registering 939 cfs at Holland, and 664 cfs at Headingly. The level of the Shellmouth Reservoir continues to drop, falling to 1397.04 feet.

River update

Time: February 21, 2021

Portage Diversion: closed

Assiniboine at Holland: 939 cfs

Assiniboine at Headingly: 664 cfs

Waterhen: 176 cfs (gauge reading suspect)

Whitemud: gauge out of order

Fairford: 1,561 cfs

Dauphin: 968 cfs

Lake update

Time: February 21, 2021

Steep Rock: 810.94 ft

Westbourne: 810.88 ft

Mean level Lake Manitoba: 810.92 ft

Lake Manitoba desired operating range: 810.5 to 812.5 ft

Lake St. Martin: 798.17 ft

Lake St. Martin desired operating range: 797.0 to 800.0 ft

Lake Winnipegosis: 830.24 ft

Shellmouth Reservoir: 1397.04 ft

Extracted from the Environment and Climate Change Canada Real-time Hydrometric Data web site (https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/mainmenu/real_time_data_index_e.html) on February 21, 2021.

Lake Manitoba update: Feb. 14, 2021

Another week of little change. Lake Manitoba is holding steady at 810.92 feet. Outflow at Fairford is down a bit to 1,617 cfs.  The inflow on the Waterhen is registering just 170 cfs but these gauge readings are suspect. The gauge on the Whitemud is currently malfunctioning, but flow there is near zero. The level of Lake St. Martin continues its slow rise reaching 798.11 ft today. Flow on the Dauphin River is down to 1,077 cfs. The level of Lake Winnipegosis is steady to 830.30 feet. The Assiniboine at Holland is registering 830 cfs at Holland, and 660 cfs at Headingly. The level of the Shellmouth Reservoir continues to drop, falling to 1397.21 feet.

River update

Time: February 14, 2021

Portage Diversion: closed

Assiniboine at Holland: 830 cfs

Assiniboine at Headingly: 660 cfs

Waterhen: 170 cfs (gauge reading suspect)

Whitemud: gauge malfunction

Fairford: 1,617 cfs

Dauphin: 1,077 cfs

Lake update

Time: February 14, 2021

Steep Rock: 810.93 ft

Westbourne: 810.92 ft

Mean level Lake Manitoba: 810.92 ft

Lake Manitoba desired operating range: 810.5 to 812.5 ft

Lake St. Martin: 798.11 ft

Lake St. Martin desired operating range: 797.0 to 800.0 ft

Lake Winnipegosis: 830.30 ft

Shellmouth Reservoir: 1397.21 ft

Extracted from the Environment and Climate Change Canada Real-time Hydrometric Data web site (https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/mainmenu/real_time_data_index_e.html) on February 14, 2021.

Lake Manitoba update: Feb. 7, 2021

It is the dead of winter and there is little change to report. Lake Manitoba is holding steady at 810.93 feet. Outflow at Fairford is up slightly to 1,886 cfs.  The inflow on the Waterhen is registering just 266 cfs but these gauge readings are suspect. Flow on the Whitemud has almost stopped, now just 5 cfs. The level of Lake St. Martin continues its slow rise reaching 798.04 ft today. Flow on the Dauphin River is up slightly to 1,232 cfs. The level of Lake Winnipegosis is steady to 830.30 feet. The Assiniboine at Holland is registering 791 cfs at Holland, and 643 cfs at Headingly. The level of the Shellmouth Reservoir continues to drop, falling to 1397.49 feet.

River update

Time: February 7, 2021

Portage Diversion: closed

Assiniboine at Holland: 791 cfs

Assiniboine at Headingly: 643 cfs

Waterhen: 266 cfs

Whitemud: 5 cfs

Fairford: 1,886 cfs

Dauphin: 1,232 cfs

Lake update

Time: February 7, 2021

Steep Rock: 810.5 ft

Westbourne: 810.92 ft

Mean level Lake Manitoba: 810.93 ft

Lake Manitoba desired operating range: 810.5 to 812.5 ft

Lake St. Martin: 798.04 ft

Lake St. Martin desired operating range: 797.0 to 800.0 ft

Lake Winnipegosis: 830.30 ft

Shellmouth Reservoir: 1397.49 ft

Extracted from the Environment and Climate Change Canada Real-time Hydrometric Data web site (https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/mainmenu/real_time_data_index_e.html) on February 7, 2021.