Gerrard Meeting Minutes by Scott Greenlay
Dr. Jon Gerrard held an open forum on Lake Manitoba flood situation at Portage la Prairie on February 16th, 2012, and has provided the following notes from the meeting:
JOHN GERRARD OPEN FORUM, FEBRUARY 16/2012
Approximately 40 people in attendance
1. Compensation
- 1 billion dollar for property losses and 1 billion for farm losses
- Should there be 100% compensation- all agreed that the reality is far from it.
- Why is there discrimination between permanent residents and seasonal cottage owners? A- This a historical issue, along the Red River DFA would not pay for seasonal cottages, at least this time seasonal cottage owners are included as people were sacrificed and should be included.
- The point was raised about Premier Selinger taking responsibility early on for flooding out Lake MB and making people whole which has not happened. In fact some Ministers have stated that other natural factors were at play and thus the 14% co-pay on the $20,000.00 from Water Stewardship.
- Everyone at the meeting agreed that compensation should be based on replacement value.
- There was also discussion regarding fair market value x2 at Twin Beaches.
- One home owner from the Hoop and Holler area said they had 3 feet of water in their basement and have had little help, farmers in the area seemed to be content with the compensation they received.
- Other farmers from around the lake are not as happy as compensation has been slow and inadequate when it does come. The Premier has not attended a meeting with the Flood Recovery Committee.
2. What do people need immediately to help with spring flooding and ice?
- Cam Blight from the RM of Portage would of course like to have the lake levels lower, definitely wants better communication of the data and more advanced notice. All agreed that there was not enough advanced notice given and more preparation could have done in advance.
- Not a whole lot people can do individually to prevent further damage, the second channel needed to be built at Fairford to lower lake levels before spring.
- Jon Gerrard is willing to lobby in the Leg. for flood victims as far as getting assistance for the spring and other issues, Ian Wishart was in attendance as well and is willing to help anyway he can.
3. What level should lake Manitoba be maintained at?
- There is no ideal level as each area of the lake has its own unique issues, generally the range was between 811-812. Currently the lake level is 814.There needs to be a range that can allow for recreational, agricultural use and keep the marshes healthy.
- There needs to be operational policy regarding the use of the Portage Diversion.
- There was discussion regarding the Assiniboine Rive rand that in 97 the flow used to be 25000cfs and now is 18000 cfs and that dredging maybe an option.
- Water retention seemed to be important, re the Holland dam and other retention areas as well, how farm land is drained also is a factor. The water is getting into the system so quickly that the need to run the Diversion at capacity or above is necessitated.
- Hydro has stated that Lake Manitoba is not a reservoir unlike Lake Winnipeg.And that this is a provincial issue and not a Hydro issue.
