The province is raising and reinforcing 70 kilometres of earthen dikes along the Assiniboine River from Portage la Prairie to just east of the Baie St. Paul Bridge, north of Elie.
Predicted flood levels along the river are said to be similar to those of 1976, creating the need to raise the permanent dikes to protect homeowners against the spring run-off.
More than 100 pieces of machinery is being used to perform the task, and any large trees removed from the dikes are being salvaged for further use.
The dikes have a long history in Manitoba, first being constructed in 1912, and then reinforced in both 1950 and 1997.
To prevent further flooding along the Assiniboine, crews are also lowering the level of the Shellmouth Reservoir and undertaking maintenance work on the Portage Diversion.
