Province of Manitoba » Water Stewardship » Water Information » Hydrology - surface water

Description:

The Surface Water Management Program is divided into four sub-program areas:

1. River Forecasting
2. Flood Damage Reduction
3. Hydrologic Investigations, and
4. Water Supply Management.

This program provides forecasts and status reports on the conditions of rivers, lakes and reservoirs, particularly during times of flood and drought. Planning and engineering services are delivered for water use, allocation and licensing purpose and provide direct support for water-related public information and multi-disciplinary resource management activities. The program plans and coordinates the operation of provincial dams for water supply, conservation, flood control, habitat and recreation purposes and provides specialized hydrologic advice, analyses and information. Monitoring of Manitoba's rivers and lakes water level conditions and streamflows are provided. The program includes operation of the Red River Floodway and Portage Diversion, determines extent of flood risk areas and produces maps showing these areas, identifying viable structural measures for reducing flood damages and providing flood risk information as requested.

Clients:

Municipalities, communities, First Nations, individual landowners, citizens of Manitoba, Manitoba Conservation regional branches, Emergency Management Organization, Department of Highways, Manitoba Agriculture, conservation districts, irrigation districts, Information Services, engineering and environmental consultants, federal government and City of Winnipeg.

Clients needs include forecasted peak water levels of rivers or lakes in the vicinity of major dikes and individual properties, dependable water supply, future water availability to assist in economic development planning, strategies to assess needs, and accurate collection and computation of the field data and its manipulation into data bases in a timely fashion.

Objectives:

1. To ensure the optimal level of flood protection to people and property
2. To provide flow and level forecasts enabling judicious operation of water control works
3. To provide flood preparedness plans and emergency flood response plans
4. To ensure that lakes, rivers and wetlands are managed and conserved
5. To manage surface water resources by operating water supply and water control dams reflecting local experience and needs
6. To ensure the sustainable allocation and use of water supplies
7. To develop and maintain comprehensive, accessible, water management databases

Activities:

• Water supply planning and management
• Flood damage reduction planning
• Flow and water level forecasting
• Hydrologic investigations
• Reservoir operations
• Lake level and streamflow monitoring