Overland flooding closes parts of a street in Gimli, Manitoba in this 2010 file photo. (STAN MILOSEVIC / CHRISD.CA FILE)
The Manitoba government has committed $1.4 million to fund flood mitigation projects in five rural municipalities.
The RMs of Victoria Beach, St. Clements, Bifrost, Riverton and Gimli will see boosted flood protection at Albert, Patricia and Pebble beaches, Riverton and the Willow Island access road.
“The proactive approach taken by our provincial government in protecting our communities from flooding now and into the future will in the long-run show great savings for all Manitobans,” said Mayor Steve Strang, RM of St. Clements.
The following projects will receive funding:
RM of Gimli — Willow Island access road improvements
– The island is connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land and high water levels on the lake, combined with other weather events, often cause the road to go underwater. The grant will allow the RM to undertake improvements to the access road which is susceptible to flooding. The province, through the BMF, will fund 90 per cent of the work to a maximum of $300,000.
RM of St. Clements — Patricia Beach community dike
– The Patricia Beach diking project will help protect approximately 60 individual residences and cottages. The area sustained considerable damage in the October 2010 ‘weather bomb’ and has been subject to flooding again in 2014. The province, through the BMF, will fund
90 per cent of the work to a maximum of $800,000.
RM of Victoria Beach — Albert Beach flood protection
– The RM of Victoria Beach is currently evaluating options for increased protection including rehabilitating existing protection that has been damaged. The province, through the BMF, will fund 90 per cent of the work to a maximum of $300,000.
RM of Bifrost — Pebble Beach flood protection
– The Pebble Beach area, adjacent to Lake Winnipeg, is increasing protection building on works that were undertaken in 2005.
Village of Riverton — community dike
– The Icelandic River that runs through the RM of Bifrost has a very narrow channel south of the Village of Riverton. This project will provide permanent flood protection in the vicinity of the Riverton High School. The work will consist of raising an existing road, constructing a new dike, and associated drainage and remedial work.
— Staff
