UPDATE:
Mayor Jeff Fawcett will give us an update at 10 a.m. Monday morning.
We will have regular updates throughout the day online and on air.
Brandon’s flood response tightened again Sunday as rising water along the Assiniboine River created new pressure points both inside the city and at nearby provincial parks. The river continues its gradual climb toward an expected peak early this week, prompting lane closures, seepage control, and fresh impacts to recreation areas across the region.
In Brandon, 1st Street northbound is closed, with all vehicles now moving through the southbound lane, which has been converted to two‑way travel. Water has overtopped portions of the roadway, and motorists are being urged to slow down, choose alternate routes, and expect delays. Brandon Transit riders should also plan for longer travel times.
City crews are also managing significant seepage along the corridor. Roughly 4 to 5 inches of water has collected on parts of the road, and pumps are running to keep the lane usable. Mayor Jeff Fawcett said the seepage developed late Sunday morning and crews have been working steadily to stay ahead of it.
“There’s been a fair bit of seepage under that northbound lane, and they’re pumping it back,” he said. “You can still get through, but it’s going to be slow. If you’ve got another route, take it.”
As of 0700 hours Sunday, the Assiniboine measured 1179.23 feet at 1st Street, rising 1.62 feet in the past 24 hours. Fawcett said the river’s rise is tracking closely with hydrologists’ projections.
“We’re seeing the river behave pretty much the way the forecast suggested,” he said. “We’re expecting a little more of a rise, but it’s still within what we planned for.”
Fawcett emphasized that the city’s flood‑protection system remains solid. “The dike is good. Everything’s being monitored regularly,” he said, noting that crews are watching gates, lift stations, and seepage points around the clock. “Everybody on our team is out there diligently working 24/7, and everything is holding well.”
Beyond city limits, Spruce Woods Provincial Park’s lower campgrounds are now flooded, with water encroaching on low‑lying sites and limiting access for visitors. MLA Colleen Robbins said crews have been following provincial direction on mitigation efforts, but the situation at the campground underscores how much water is moving through the region.
“Once the water starts lowering, they’ll need to pump as much as they can and then let nature take its course,” Robbins said. “But you’re never going to get ahead of it until the water stops flowing.”
Robbins said long‑term solutions need to be on the table. “We need to figure out water diversion. There’s got to be some way to hold that water back or minimize the flow that comes through Grand Valley,” she said, noting crop losses, flooded farmland, and homes now affected. “Even if we held half of this back, it wouldn’t have hit the roads as badly.”
Fawcett confirmed the Province of Manitoba ordered the 1st Street closure, and said the city continues to work closely with provincial officials as high water affects communities across southwestern Manitoba.
City officials say updates will continue as conditions evolve, with crews maintaining round‑the‑clock oversight of vulnerable areas.
Drone shot from west side of First Street North.
