Onsite investigations using probes and water level monitoring below the spillway on the provincial dam at Rivers shows no substantial damage at this time and the Manitoba government has now regained confidence in the structure.
Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler says the province thanks the people who evacuated for their understanding, and provided some good news. “We are pleased to report they can now return home. The engineering assessment based on current conditions shows no substantial amount of damage to the dam from record flows over the past two weeks.”
Record rains resulted in very high water levels on the Little Saskatchewan River impacting the municipalities of Riverdale, Whitehead and Cornwallis and the City of Brandon.
Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization staff will be in contact with municipalities on safe return procedures for residents. As a precaution, provincial officials continue to monitor the dam 24 hours until water levels recede further. The province continues its recommendation that all use of Lake Wahtopanah be suspended until water levels recede further.
