| Geoscientific insights into the Red River and its flood problem in Manitoba |
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Natural Resources Canada > Earth Sciences Sector > Priorities > Strong and safe communities > Floods
Geoscientific insights into the Red River and its flood problem in Manitoba Images of the Red River
Aerial views
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The Red River looking northwards (in the direction of flow) between Letellier and St Jean Baptiste, Manitoba. Note the broad meandering course of the river channel. Although too subtle to be apparent in the photograph, the river is flowing within a shallow stream-cut valley incised into the plain of the Red River Valley. The width of the stream-cut valley corresponds approximately with the amplitude of the meander belt. |
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River meander just south of St Jean Baptiste, Manitoba, flow is from left to right. Note, the band of trees that line the river banks. |
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Aerial view of the broad zone of inundation during the 1997 Red River flood, looking approximately southwest. The great extent of the flooding is clearly apparent. The sinuous course of the river is delineated by the gap in the trees. The river is flowing towards the bottom right hand corner of the photograph. In the upper right hand corner of the picture is a portion of the Brunkild dike which defines the northern limit of the flood zone west of the river. |
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The Red River, during the 1997 flood, viewed just south of St. Norbert. The channel is delineated by the obvious sinuous gap in the trees. The river is flowing from right to left. |
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The Red River during the 1997 flood, viewed southwards from near St. Norbert. The sinuous course of the channel is evident by the gap in the trees. Note the lateral extent of the flood waters away from the river channel. |
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The town of Morris surrounded by river waters during the 1997 flood. Although resembling an island, the ground surface in Morris is lower than the level of flooding. A ring-dike around the town prevents its inundation by flood waters. |
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The Red River Floodway at the Floodway inlet, in operation during the 1997 flood. Gates in the Floodway control structure elevate the river stage upstream causing a portion of the river discharge to be diverted down the Floodway channel. The Floodway control structure is in the approximate centre of the photograph and the flow in the Floodway channel is towards the top of the photograph. The Floodway diverts a portion of the river discharge around Winnipeg preventing the stage of the river from overtopping dikes downstream. |
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The Floodway channel in operation in 1999 during a moderate flood. Flow is towards the base of the channel. |
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The confluence of the Red River and the Floodway outlet at Lockport; the Red River enters from the left while the Floodway channel enters from the right. The turbulent white water near the mouth of the Floodway channel is generated from the tailrace associated with the Floodway drop structure. Particularly notable about this picture is that below the confluence, the Red River is again carrying its full discharge, but the entire river flow is contained within a stream-cut valley and does not spill across the plain of the Red River Valley. The confinement of the river reflects a slight, but obviously important, deepening and steepening of the stream-cut valley occupied by the river. Photograph 9 was taken on the same day as pictures 3 to 6 which depict the broad flood zone south of Winnipeg. |
Ground views
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The Red River at moderate and high river stages, viewed downstream from the highway bridge at Emerson, Manitoba. The variation in river stage between photographs "A" and "B" taken in July and early April 1999, respectively, is readily apparent relative to the iron railway bridge that spans the channel. |
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Comparative views just west of Niverville, photograph "A" during the flood (May 8, 1997) and photograph "B" after the flood (June 14, 1997), looking south down a side road. The site is located about 6 km east of the Red River channel. |
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The Floodway control structure in operation during the 1997 Red River flood. Note the step in the water surface as the river flows over the submerged gates of the control structure. |
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House built on an earthen pad, just south of St. Norbert. A pad is an economical means by which the level of the house can be raised above the level of flooding. The currently prescribed height of a pad in the Red River Valley, Manitoba, is the local level of the 1997 flood plus a 0.6 m (2 ft) factor of safety. |
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Although only a portion of the roof can be seen, this house is surrounded by a small, high ring-dike (the barren mound in the foreground). Small ring-dikes represent an economical means to protect existing structures from flooding. The currently prescribed height of the ring-dike in the Red River Valley, Manitoba, is the local level of the 1997 flood plus a 0.6 m (2 ft) factor of safety. |
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House protected from flooding by a temporary ring-dike constructed of sand bags, during the 1997 Red River flood. |
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