The governments of Saskatchewan and Manitoba have reached an agreement on Saskatchewan’s flood protection plan for Fishing Lake. Both provinces are facing the potential for severe spring flooding and have worked to ensure that flood peaks in Manitoba will not be increased by release of water from Fishing Lake.
The emergency flood protection plan for Fishing Lake, announced Nov. 24, 2010, includes constructing a channel to hasten the removal of water from the lake, raising low areas on berms and preparing to sandbag where necessary. The Manitoba government expressed concern that outflows from Fishing Lake could impact flood peaks in that province and affect water quality.
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“I want to thank Manitoba officials for working with us to help implement a solution to the flood challenges at Fishing Lake,” Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Ken Krawetz said in a release. “Our ability to come to a workable agreement on the Fishing Lake situation gives us confidence that we can face future challenges using a co-operative approach.”
The joint agreement includes conditions under which Saskatchewan will operate the control structure in the channel to reduce water levels without increasing flooding or hurting water quality in Manitoba. Authorities have expressed concern that there is potential for impacts in Manitoba and this agreement should help address that concern.
“The fact that Saskatchewan has recognized and acted upon our concerns has been much appreciated as we prepare for imminent spring flooding,” Manitoba’s Minister of Water Stewardship Christine Melnick said. “I am pleased that by working together, we have completed an operating plan that will reduce flood risk in Saskatchewan without increasing the flood risk in Manitoba.”
Saskatchewan Watershed Authority is currently mobilizing equipment and initiating preconstruction activities at Fishing Lake. To take advantage of the winter conditions, work to construct the downstream channel must begin immediately upon receipt of federal environmental approvals. For now, crews are removing snow and building access roads in areas where environmental approvals are not required; no work is being undertaken in areas requiring these approvals.
