City of Brandon Proceeding with Removal of Dike Plug at Grand Valley Road

Brandon, MB – The City of Brandon Emergency Response Control Group is finalizing plans to remove the earthen dike plug at the intersection of 18th Street North and Grand Valley Road (PR #459).

The plug was installed in early July of this year as a means of protecting the community against any surge of water related to flash flooding upstream in the Assiniboine River Valley, particularly from an unforeseen failure of the Rivers Dam.

Updated hydrological forecast data provided by the Province of Manitoba this week suggests that the volume of water within the Rivers Reservoir upstream of Brandon is now at a manageable level should there be any unforeseen failure of the Rivers Dam structure.

Mobilization of equipment on-site at the dike is anticipated prior to the weekend, with the intersection expected to be re-opened to traffic early next week.

The City of Brandon Emergency Response Control Group also advises that the Province of Manitoba has confirmed it will provide disaster financial assistance for the heavy rain events that occurred between June 28^th to July 5^th in western and southern Manitoba. The City of Brandon would encourage impacted property owners that have yet to do so to submit their own DFA application directly to the Manitoba Government by visiting https://forms.gov.mb.ca/DFA_Application/. Property owners may also phone the Province of Manitoba toll-free at 1-888-267-8298 and have an application form mailed to them.

More information about the Province of Manitoba’s Disaster Financial Assistance process can be found at https://www.gov.mb.ca/emo/recover/home/dfa_home.htm

(City of Brandon Media Release)