Are Red River Valley residents outside Winnipeg protected from extreme floods?
Since 1997, the province has invested about $130 million to flood-proof Red River Valley residents north and south of Winnipeg. Community ring dikes have been completed or upgraded in 20 communities. Outside the community ring dikes, funding was provided for up to 75 per cent of flood proofing projects, up to a maximum of $70,000. (Ex: relocate buildings, raise them onto pads, terrace around their foundations, build ring dikes, etc.) A buyout option existed for properties that could not be flood-proofed in a cost-effective way. About 80 to 90 per cent of rural properties in the valley are now flood-proofed to the 1997 level.
