The gates of the Red River floodway were raised at 1 p.m. today after engineering staff recommended the immediate partial operation of the structure.
A horn was sounded at the inlet control structure to warn those residents living south of the floodway of the gates’ operation.
The operation is necessary to avoid the risk of flooding in Winnipeg due to the combination of high river flows and the potential for a serious ice jam. Future floodway operations will depend upon ice conditions both upstream and downstream of the structure.
Activating the gates is expected to minimize the diversion of ice into the floodway channel and hold Winnipeg river levels at 5.64 metres (18.5 feet) at James Avenue while maintaining less than natural levels upstream.
The video below was shot minutes after the gates opened. Officials were gathered on the bridge crossing the floodway at the time.
[flv:https://www.chrisd.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/floodway-april-8-2009.flv https://www.chrisd.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/floodway-april-8-2009.jpg 425 300]
ChrisD.ca photo/video
