Premier Greg Selinger said a deliberate dike breach on the Assiniboine River is set to go ahead Saturday morning at 6 a.m. as part of the massive flood fight.
The breach will take place at the Hoop and Holler Bend, southeast of Portage la Prairie.
In a public address Friday night, Selinger said large parts of Manitoba are coping with some of the worst flooding the province has seen, a one-in-300-year flood.
"Unprecedented flood levels, fully saturated grounds and bad weather at the worst possible time have created a perfect storm. This is a natural disaster without precedent and it is affecting the lives of many Manitobans," said Selinger.
Provincial officials previously said the Hoop and Holler Bend was selected since it provided the least risk and best opportunity for managing water flows. The timing for a deliberate breach has been pushed back on multiple occasions this week.
"Based on a unanimous recommendation from our officials we will create a controlled opening in the dike along the Hoop and Holler Bend. This controlled opening will slowly release water from the Assiniboine (River) as it nears it peak and flow overland to the La Salle River over several days," said Selinger.
A road near Hoop and Holler Bend has been acting as a dike, holding back water from the Assiniboine River.
Crews have been working to surround it with large limestone boulders, or rip rap. To carry out the breach, crews will make a cut less than a metre deep into the road and water will flow through the boulders, absorbing the impact of the waves. The province said the rocks will slow down the flow of water, making it a controlled release.
Earlier in the week, provincial officials said a controlled release would only happen if the Portage Diversion was unable to handle increased flows, or if dikes appear at risk of uncontrolled breaches.
In an uncontrolled breach, about 850 homes would be at risk and it could affect an area of 500 square kilometres in communities including St. Eustache, Elie, St. Francois Xavier, Poplar Point and La Salle, among others, said the province.
The controlled breach, meanwhile, could affect about 150 homes, said the province.
Selinger said work was continuing Friday to protect houses. The premier also said provincial staff members have been told to create a special compensation program, in addition to disaster assistance.
"Families and producers affected by the controlled release will receive compensation to cover damages, income losses and the cost of recovering the land after the flood waters recede," said Selinger.
The premier said the flood fight was long from over.
"We'll work day in and day out to stay ahead of the flood and do everything we can to support Manitoba families," said Selinger.
He also extended thanks to all those working to battle rising waters.
-more flood information is available on the province's website
Illustration below showing rip rap measures undertaken for release of Assiniboine River
