Discussions

My daughter stopped by the dam at lake of the prairies and was shocked to see the level so low.  
She sent me pics via facebook, and i don't know how to up load them to here, but it is extremely low.  
The outlet has about 4 ft showing.  
The posts at the boat launch are high and dry, the water is about 40 ft from the end of the cement pad at the launch.  
I wonder what excuse water resources has this time  

still snow to come from the Northern Sask. yet. We will see some rise.

I was just at Kamsack Sk to day, there is no snow there.  
Was at Swan River on thursday last week, no snow there.  
There is a little nit along the southern edge of the Ducks, but it will be gone tomorrow.  
There is no snow left

Water management is just a term and as far as I'm concerned means very little, it's not like they don't try to manage water levels, but it all depends on precipitation, which likely means working with averages. El Niño events usually bring milder winters but depending where the jet stream goes it can be dryer or wetter. We did go through a milder winter but moisture was lacking from the Rockies eastwards, which means right now our water situation is greatly reduced and it could get worse before it gets better.

http://globalnews.ca/news/2646270/water-agency-warns-of-rapid-snow-melt-as-temperatures-climb-above-seasonal/

Was at kamsack sk today! The assinaboine has breached its banks there! The water flows into lake of the prairies! The water level will rise !

We need a like button in here. Farmers feed the world said it perfectly.

FFW nailed it. It was never intended to be used as a resort destination. It's sole purpose was to provide flood control not waterfront cottages. Time to get back to what it was meant to be.

Farmers Feed the World said "Lake of the prairies is a flood prevention tool and it's high time it starts to be used as such. Fisheries and the cottage and recreation guys have turned a flood tool into a flood problem. That Lake should be drained all winter then refilled in the spring with runoff. However the Fisheries have their say that if the water gets to low to many fish die. And the cottage owners want a consistent water level because heaven forbid beach front cottage isn't beach front.   It was never supposed to be used like this. If it was used correctly maybe the floods effects on brandon and tell assiniboine river valley wouldn't of been so severe. "

i would say that the new fellow at water resources is more proactive than some have been in the past and as pointed out the primary purpose is flood mitigation recreation being of less importance

Yes it is time to get it back to what it was mea t to be. A valley. The province has not ever compensated the farmers in the area for the constant year after year damage to there lively hoods so that people in brandon and Winnipeg can have riverfront homes.

However, there was also repairs being made to the dam gates for 2-3 months thru the winter and the gates needed to be open for those repairs, so much of the reservoir was drained during that time.

Our campground owner is posting pictures at Richters (north end) and you can see the water coming up. They are letting out water from Shell Mouth starting today and once more (two stages). Will increase the height of the river between Shellmouth and St. Lazare by up to two ft.

Release from the Province yesterday is at the link below. Shellmouth outflows will be increased today with peak levels between the dam and Brandon are expected in the first week of May:  
http://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?item=37730

I just posted a photo of the North End of L of P.