Manitoba Water Stewardship promises to formalize compensation for property owners who experience summer flooding damage from the Red River Floodway.
Currently, people who suffer upstream flooding damage from emergency use of the floodway are compensated under rules governing the facility’s operations.
The province says it will embed compensation in law instead of just having it as policy. The promise is contained in a Nov. 5 Water Stewardship report looking at possible changes to floodway operating rules.
The floodway operates under four rules. The first three provide spring flood protection to the city of Winnipeg. The fourth provides emergency operations to deal with risks after spring floods have passed. Those include sewer backup, basement flooding and possible human health risks.
Floodway Victims
In 2002, 2004,
been operated
from heavy rains.
along the Red 2005 and 2010 – the floodway has
in summer to offset flooding risks
This emergency use backs up water
River and causes localized flooding
south of the city.
to property owners affected by upstream
in the report include creating an early
ice jams and communicating with affected
In 2005, the
flooding. Market
province will
to actual legislation,
Stewardship
the time is right
rules because the
was expected in
warning response
use, studying the
residents when
But it will move
Water Stewardship
province paid $1.1 million in compensation
gardeners received $435,000. The
continue such compensation.
the requirement from licence rules
director. said Eugene Kozera, a Water
Minister Christine Melnyk said
to consider changes to the operating
floodway is getting more use than
1968 when it opened. Other recommendations
for emergency summer floodway
effects of the floodway on downstream
the floodway has to be engaged.
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