Manitoba Channels Project up for Comment

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is in the process of determining whether a federal environmental assessment is required for the proposed Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin Outlet Channels Project.

To help inform this decision, the Agency is inviting public comments until February 12, 2018 on the project and its potential for causing adverse environmental effects.

“As a next step, the Agency will post a decision on its website stating whether an environmental assessment is required. If one is required, the public will have three more opportunities to comment on the environmental assessment of the project,” reported the Agency.

Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin Outlet Channels Project

Manitoba Infrastructure is proposing the construction and operation of a new permanent flood control management system located in Manitoba.

As proposed, the Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin Outlet Channels Project would consist of two new diversion channels each approximately 23 kilometers long: the first running northwards from Watchorn Bay on Lake Manitoba to Birch Bay on Lake St. Martin (Lake Manitoba Outlet Channel), and a second running northeast from Lake St. Martin to Lake Winnipeg, south of Willow Point (Lake St. Martin Outlet Channel).

The project would also include the construction of a combined bridge and water control structure, a 24-kilovolt distribution line, and the re-alignment and/or construction of provincial highways, municipal roads and three bridge structures.