Designated Flood Areas

Designated Flood Areas (DFAs) are specific flood areas that are formally designated under Section 17 of The Water Resources Administration Act. There are two DFAs in Manitoba: the Red River Valley DFA south of Winnipeg, and the Lower Red River DFA north of Winnipeg.

The purpose of the Designated Flood Areas is to ensure that new, permanent structures within the DFAs are constructed with flood protection. Flood protection is achieved by structures being built to site-specific elevations known as Flood Protection Levels, or being protected by dikes constructed to those levels.

A Designated Flood Area Permit is required for any new permanent structure within a DFA. The Permit is issued by the Water Management and Structures Division of Manitoba Infrastructure.

The Permit will specify the Flood Protection Level that must be used, and the flood protection requirements that must be adhered to.

Site-specific Flood Protection Levels will be established on site by Manitoba Infrastructure prior to the commencement of construction. As well, inspection and compliance surveys will also be undertaken by Manitoba Infrastructure during and after the construction work.

If a new structure is constructed without the required Designated Flood Area Permit, or constructed without the required flood protection, the structure may be ordered to be removed.

Alternately, a caveat may be registered against the property title indicating that the structure does not comply with flood protection requirements.

If you require additional information, please contact:
Development Review
Phone: 204-945-2121
Email: mitwaterreview@gov.mb.ca

Red River Valley Designated Flood Area (RRVDFA)

The RRVDFA was established in June 1979, following the 1979 Red River flood. Subsequent to the1997 Red River flood, which was the equivalent of a 100 year flood, flood protection requirements were updated, and the boundary of the Red River Valley Designated Flood Area was broadened. Following the 2011 floods across Manitoba, the 200-year flood standard was adopted.

Boundary: The RRVDFA is bounded in the south by the International Boundary and, in the north, by the Red River Floodway works. The east and west boundaries of the Designated Flood Area are generally defined by the east and west flood limits of the 1997 Red River flood.

Permit application: RRVDFA Permit Applications may be downloaded at the following and should be submitted to Manitoba Infrastructure as noted on the application.

Designated Flood Area Permit Applications should be returned to:
Email: mitwaterreview@gov.mb.ca

Mail: Development Review
Manitoba Infrastructure
2nd Floor 280 Broadway
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0R8

Fax: (204) 948-4764

Flood protection requirements: All new, permanent structures constructed within the RRVDFA must be provided with flood protection. This can generally be achieved by either diking around or raising the proposed structures. Flood protection for new structures within the Red River Valley Designated Flood Area must be provided to the structure-specific elevation known as the Flood Protection Level (FPL).
The Flood Protection requirements for new structures in the Red River Valley Designated Flood Area are contained in the below pdf documents:

Lower Red River Designated Flood Area (LRRDFA)

The LRRDFA was established in September 2011. Flood protection requirements of the Lower Red River Designated Flood Area are based upon the Design Flood Levels. The Design Flood Levels are based on open water surface elevations of the 200-year flood or historical ice jam affected water levels, whichever are greater.

Boundary: The Lower Red River Designated Flood Area extends along the Red River from the north municipal boundary of the City of Winnipeg to the Red Rivers confluence with Netley Creek. It also encompasses lands along Netley Creek from its confluence with the Red River and westward to PTH #9.

Permit application: LRRDFA Permit Applications may be downloaded at the following and should be submitted to Manitoba Infrastructure as noted on the application.

Designated Flood Area Permit Applications should be returned to:

Email: mitwaterreview@gov.mb.ca

Mail: Development Review
Manitoba Infrastructure
2nd Floor 280 Broadway
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0R8

Fax: (204) 948-4764

Flood protection requirements: All new, permanent structures constructed within the LRRDFA must be provided with flood protection. This can be achieved by either diking around or raising the proposed structures. Flood protection for new structures within the LRRDFA must be provided to the structure-specific elevation known as the Flood Protection Level (FPL).
The Flood Protection requirements for new structures in the Lower Red River Designated Flood Area are contained in the below pdf documents: