Manitoba to Build Emergency Channel for Flood Drainage

The Canadian state government of Manitoba will begin construction of a five-mile emergency channel to divert water from swollen Lake Manitoba and Lake St Martin to Lake Winnipeg.

Independent engineering firms KGS and AECOM recommended building the channel, which will allow unrestricted water flow from Lake Manitoba through the Fairford River water control structure.

The 300ft-wide and 25ft-deep emergency channel is expected to handle up to 9,000ft³ of water per second and will affect Lake Winnipeg’s North Basin levels by less than 1in.