City keeping eye on slowly receding river

City of Brandon officials are continuing to monitor and inspect flood infrastructure as water levels kept slowly receding on Tuesday.

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The Assiniboine River was measured at 1,179.21 feet above sea level at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, compared to the 1,179.49-foot crest at 2 a.m. on Monday. “Our next steps are really focusing on monitoring and inspecting, and (continuing) to communicate to the public ... our current state, and that we need to keep an eye on things very closely,” the city’s emergency co-ordinator, Tobin Praznik, said on Tuesday. “It’s really making sure that people are still aware that we are in a significant high-water event, and it’s going to take some time before that water recedes — from a comfort level.”

The city is also continuing to watch the forecast for potential rain along the Assiniboine and near the Shellmouth Dam. Officials aren’t expecting water levels to rise again, but “we still need to be prepared for those unforeseen circumstances,” Praznik said. Evacuation notices are also still in place for some neighbourhoods adjacent to the river.

“We want people to be comfortable, but on the flip side, we also want them to be prepared because, as we know, things just happen, and it’s important that we stay alert for this next number of weeks while this water continues to be at this high level,” Praznik said. The city feels comfortable with the protection currently in place, he added. Mayor Jeff Fawcett said the city is ready for “all sorts of things” but that crews will start to feel better at the end of the week and next week as water levels continue to drop.

Residents in the flood-prone areas of the city should continue to be aware of the situation and watch for safety messages, he said. People should also stay away from the river, dikes and off of closed roads. No major infrastructure has been damaged.

Grand Valley Road has been closed for more than a week after crews built a dike to keep water from going onto 18th Street and the surrounding neighbourhood. Dinsdale and Brandon Youth Soccer Association parks were also submerged with floodwater on Monday and Tuesday. The 1,179.49-foot crest on Monday compares to an about 1,183-foot peak during the 2011 flood, the 1,185-foot level in 2014 and 1,179.24 feet in 2017.

Praznik said while the numbers are good for comparison’s sake, every flooding situation is different and they are handled differently. » alambert@brandonsun.com