Svjetlana mlinarevic

Svjetlana Mlinarevic

Herald Leader

July 7, 2014

 

The Rural Municipality of Cartier is bracing itself for flood waters as 70 homes are in the process of being diked.

 

“Well its not here yet, but it’s coming,” said Reeve Roland Rasmussen.

 

Initial reports indicated that 15 houses were being diked in the east end of Cartier known as the Golden Oak Cove area and the southern Lido Plage area, Rasmussen indicated that number has now gone up.

 

“We’re actually working on about, I’d say, up to 70 houses now for water levels of 2011 plus one foot and free board,” he said. “It’s on the river, so it’s not a lake, the waves aren’t that big, but no matter how windy it gets it’s fairly sheltered.”

Rasmussen said residents are “anxious” and “concerned.”

 

“There’s more and more today than there was all weekend. Things are more hectic here now. It was hectic on the weekend, but more so now,” he said.

 

The reeve noted some residents were away during the weekend and didn’t realize flooding was hitting their area.

“We’ve tried contacting all homeowners that we feel are gong to be effected,” said Rasmussen, adding that more and more homeowners are being added to the sandbagging list.

 

As for Poplar Point, Rasmussen said the dikes there are always a concern.

 

“Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation (MIT) is taking charge of those and if anything happens there I’m sure they’ll be quick to let us know if they have any residents we have to deal with there,” he said.

 

As for evacuating homes in Cartier, Rasmussen said he hasn’t had to make that call yet.

 

The 2011 flood that hit the municipality between May and August caused more than $3 million in damages. Although the province refunded the municipality almost in full, Rasmussen said the RM was still in the process of repairing infrastructure damaged in 2011 when the state of emergency was called.

 

“It was devastating (in 2011) and this one will be too,” he said. “The province simply was overwhelmed that year and I think they will be overwhelmed again because western Manitoba’s wiped out. It’ll be many years before things are repaired.”

 

Rasmussen said the municipality’s best chance to remain dry is to upgrade the Portage Diversion to hold more water.

 

“If it can hold at 34,000 cfs I think we’ll be alright,” he said.

 

As for making a cut in the Poplar Point area to flood pasture land instead of cutting the Hoop and Holler bend, Rasmussen said he doesn’t want to see any cuts made in Cartier to release pressure on the Assiniboine River. He said there is no real solution to the flooding situation in the municipality.

 

During a press conference on Monday, Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation Steve Ashton said the Hoop and Holler bend has historically been “the breakout point” for the Assiniboine.

 

"If we did nothing — doing nothing is not an option when you have this surge of water coming. Historically, without the flood protection we have in place, you would have an uncontrolled breakout in the Assiniboine River,” he said.
 

Cartier residents who need flood assistance are encouraged to call 204-353-4005 or email cartierflood2014@shaw.ca.