Recreation & Economic Development Opportunities

In September 2005, the governments of Canada and Manitoba announced a $175,000 investment to study plans for recreational improvements for the new, expanded Red River Floodway.

In association with the MFA, Rivers West is leading a comprehensive consultation process with recreational stakeholders and municipal governments that will study possible future recreation development of the Floodway. Rivers West started their consultation process in October. Additional opportunities for public input are being scheduled. The study’s final results will be completed later this year.

Rivers West is a not-for-profit organization which works to develop and promote the Red River Corridor as a destination for tourists.

For more information on Rivers West (www.riverswest.ca)

Background

On January 13, 2005, the Manitoba Floodway Authority (MFA) released a “Recreation and Economic Development Opportunities Report” that identifies potential future opportunities and outlines next steps associated with the Red River Floodway expansion project.

The report reflects ideas received from a public call for expressions of interest last spring as part of MFA’s extensive public consultation process. MFA received over fifty written submissions from the public and additional suggestions through a series of public open houses and meetings with municipal governments and stakeholder groups.

As part of the expression of interest, MFA identified a number of working principles to guide future recreation activities including compatibility with the primary purpose of floodway expansion, minimal ongoing maintenance costs to taxpayers, stakeholder participation and environmental stewardship.

It recommends next steps and serves as a general framework for pursuing future opportunities and partnerships. To this end, MFA will:

• Establish a Floodway Recreation Working Group to examine issues of recreational use along the floodway including overall planning and design work process, liability issues, ongoing maintenance and financial support
  
  
• Consider a multi-use, four season greenway trail and designated snowmobile trails along the floodway within the project’s pre-design
  
  
• Initiate a formal process that will allow Manitobans to access the excavated earth from the floodway channel
  
  
• Incorporate a four lane crossing in the planning for the PTH 15 Bridge to meet increased future traffic flows and facilitate economic opportunities and population growth in the Rural Municipality of Springfield
  
  
• Consider creating a virtual reality 3D floodway model to demonstrate the floodway’s operation, recreate flood scenarios and potentially assist emergency preparedness efforts
  
  
• Initiate further consultation with local municipal governments and stakeholders before proceeding with any detailed design plans
  

Based on the working principles and further examination by the MFA staff, the following activities will not be pursued as part of the initiative:

• Proposals that require water in the floodway
  
  
• Acquisition of additional lands for the sole purpose of recreational development
  
  
• Development of a ski-hill