Community and Individual Protection

Red River Valley Ring Dike Communities and Individual Properties

Ring dike community of Emerson, April 27, 2011

Ring dike community of Emerson, April 27, 2011


Ring dike community of Morris, April 27, 2011
  • There are 18 ring dike communities in the Red River Valley which provide protection up to 1997 levels, plus 0.6 m (2 ft). During the 2009 flood, the ring dikes prevented about $700 million in flood damages to these communities.
  • The communities in the Red River Valley with provincial ring dikes are: Emerson, Gretna, Letellier, Rosenfeld, Dominion City, St. Jean Baptiste, Riverside, Rosenort, St. Pierre-Jolys, Aubigny, Morris, Lowe Farm, Ste. Agathe, Brunkild, St. Adolphe, Niverville and Grande Pointe. A community ring dike also protects Roseau River First Nation. Ownership and maintenance of this dike is the responsibility of the community. 
  • Over 2,000 sites in the valley outside of the community ring dikes have been flood protected, and so over 95% of homes, businesses, farms are now protected to the 1997 flood level. 
  • The individual flood protection works prevented $100 million in damages during the 2009 flood.
  • The 1997 Canada-Manitoba Partnership Agreement on Red River Valley Flood Protection funded $130 million in enhancements to eight ring dike communities that already had ring dikes; provided for the construction of 10 additional ring dikes; and supported flood protection for homes, farms and businesses.
  • The 2010 and 2011 Individual Flood Protection Programs initiated after the 2009 and 2011 floods in Manitoba provided funds for the flood protection of an additional 79 individual properties in the valley.

Individual Flood Protection Initiative – Red River Basin

Individual Flood Protection Initiative – Red River Basin

City of Winnipeg Flood Protection

  • Three major flood control works provide significant flood protection for the city.  They are the Red River Floodway, the Portage Diversion and the Shellmouth Reservoir.
  • As well, within the city there is a primary dike system that protects land along the Red and Assiniboine rivers. There are also secondary dikes to protect low-lying areas on the river side of the primary dikes, including Kingston Row, Lord Avenue, North Drive and Kilkenny Drive North. For more information about Winnipeg's flood protection, please visit: www.winnipeg.ca/emergweb/.
  • After the 1997 flood, $10.8 million was invested to protect vulnerable homes and condominium complexes in several flood prone areas. As well, the secondary dikes in the city were further enhanced and strengthened.
  • The $130 million under the 1997 Canada-Manitoba Partnership Agreement on Red River Valley Flood Protection funded these improvements.