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.