FAO calls for wildfire emissions monitoring and comprehensive fire management strategies.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Divisive Dams Approved in Patagonia, Chile
Coyhaique, Chile - A five-dam hydroelectric scheme that locals fear will destroy the character of one of Chile's most important wild regions was approved today. Details here.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Manitoba's Flood Picture Remains Challenging
Manitoba News Release - May 8, 2011 - FLOOD BULLETIN #38 - Manitoba Water Stewardship reports:
* A three-day unstable weather system is expected to bring widespread rain ranging from 20 to 50 millimetres across the entire southern Manitoba watershed.
The Assiniboine River, just below the Shellmouth Dam. Due to recent rain, soils have a reduced capacity to retain water and any further rain will likely run off into streams and rivers.
*Communities along the Assiniboine River between Portage la Prairie and Headingley are advised that water levels along the river will be increasing in approximately two to four days. The unprecedented flows are a result of last week's weekend storm, the timing of the melt from the storm and additional rainfall forecast for this week.
*Water levels on the Assiniboine River at the First Street Bridge in Brandon are 1,182.17 ft., an increase of 0.87 ft. since yesterday.
* Protective dikes in Brandon are being raised another two feet today in preparation for heavy rains expected in the next two to three days.
* In Brandon, PTH 110 is being protected by large flood-barrier tubes put in place yesterday. The road is open but down to one lane and is flagged and marked.
* Dikes are being raised at 18th Street to add a third super-sandbag layer. Dikes are being closely monitored on First Street, which may need to be closed later today as a safety precaution. Pumps are also running at both locations.
* Provincial sandbags are being delivered to Brandon to support flood-fighting efforts.
* Water levels on the Assiniboine River at the First Street Bridge in Brandon are 1,182.17 ft., an increase of 1.18 ft. since yesterday.
Without the Shellmouth Reservoir, (r.) water levels at Brandon would be three ft. higher.
Natural flows on the Assiniboine River at Brandon today would be comparable to the 1882 flood without the benefits provided by the reservoir.
* A three-day unstable weather system is expected to bring widespread rain ranging from 20 to 50 millimetres across the entire southern Manitoba watershed. The Assiniboine River, just below the Shellmouth Dam.
*Communities along the Assiniboine River between Portage la Prairie and Headingley are advised that water levels along the river will be increasing in approximately two to four days. The unprecedented flows are a result of last week's weekend storm, the timing of the melt from the storm and additional rainfall forecast for this week.
*Water levels on the Assiniboine River at the First Street Bridge in Brandon are 1,182.17 ft., an increase of 0.87 ft. since yesterday.
* Protective dikes in Brandon are being raised another two feet today in preparation for heavy rains expected in the next two to three days.
* In Brandon, PTH 110 is being protected by large flood-barrier tubes put in place yesterday. The road is open but down to one lane and is flagged and marked.
* Dikes are being raised at 18th Street to add a third super-sandbag layer. Dikes are being closely monitored on First Street, which may need to be closed later today as a safety precaution. Pumps are also running at both locations.
* Provincial sandbags are being delivered to Brandon to support flood-fighting efforts.
* Water levels on the Assiniboine River at the First Street Bridge in Brandon are 1,182.17 ft., an increase of 1.18 ft. since yesterday.
Natural flows on the Assiniboine River at Brandon today would be comparable to the 1882 flood without the benefits provided by the reservoir.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Evacuations Possible in Brandon Due to Rising River
Winnipeg Free Press - 05/6/2011Faulty gauge led to innaccurate water level readings. Details here.
Water thunders over the Shellmouth Dam spillway, upstream of Brandon in late April, with the reservoir behind it at near capacity. (l.p. photo)
Friday, May 6, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
An Update on Manitoba's & Saskatchewan's (Climate-Spawned?) Flooding
-by Larry Powell
In the community of Eriksdale, north of Winnipeg, flooding is now threatening homes, the hospital and personal care home.
A farm home near Yorkton, SK, isolated by floodwaters.
A flood warning is in effect for the Dauphin Lake Basin, including Parkland and the Duck Mountains, especially once the snow melts & there's lots of that yet to come. Runoff from Riding Mountain has already increased the flows of the Valley, Vermillion and Ochre Rivers significantly. The Turtle River has risen by over a meter (4 ft) since Monday!
Runoff from both the "Ducks" and Riding Mountain are adding significantly to the flow of the Assiniboine River. Because of a swollen Assiniboine, points downstream, St. Lazare, Brandon, Portage and Winnipeg are still under a continuous and prolonged flood watch. Conditions on the Assiniboine have been affected by the same blizzard and heavy rains which struck a wide area last weekend.
The huge Lake of the Prairies near the Saskatchewan border (the Shellmouth Reservoir) was "drawn down" to extremely low levels in recent weeks to accomodate expected crests from upstream.
Those crests have now arrived and 10,000 cubic feet per second is now flowing over the dam and will be for the next couple of days! (see video - May 3rd.)
As has already been stated in this space, this is the largest flood, in area, ever recorded in this province. Flood waters affect communities in virtually all parts, from the Pas, south. Cool weather and wet conditions will mean continued flood misery well into the summer.
Hundres of people remain displaced, hundreds of roads are closed and scores of "states of emergencies" have been declared.
Flooding on the Red is described as the 3rd worst in a-century-&-a-half.
In the community of Eriksdale, north of Winnipeg, flooding is now threatening homes, the hospital and personal care home. A farm home near Yorkton, SK, isolated by floodwaters.
A flood warning is in effect for the Dauphin Lake Basin, including Parkland and the Duck Mountains, especially once the snow melts & there's lots of that yet to come. Runoff from Riding Mountain has already increased the flows of the Valley, Vermillion and Ochre Rivers significantly. The Turtle River has risen by over a meter (4 ft) since Monday!
Runoff from both the "Ducks" and Riding Mountain are adding significantly to the flow of the Assiniboine River. Because of a swollen Assiniboine, points downstream, St. Lazare, Brandon, Portage and Winnipeg are still under a continuous and prolonged flood watch. Conditions on the Assiniboine have been affected by the same blizzard and heavy rains which struck a wide area last weekend.
A dry spillway at Shellmouth Dam (late April)
Those crests have now arrived and 10,000 cubic feet per second is now flowing over the dam and will be for the next couple of days! (see video - May 3rd.)
As has already been stated in this space, this is the largest flood, in area, ever recorded in this province. Flood waters affect communities in virtually all parts, from the Pas, south. Cool weather and wet conditions will mean continued flood misery well into the summer.
Hundres of people remain displaced, hundreds of roads are closed and scores of "states of emergencies" have been declared.
Flooding on the Red is described as the 3rd worst in a-century-&-a-half.
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Larry Powell Powell is a veteran, award-winning journalist based in Shoal Lake, Manitoba, Canada. He specialize in stories about agriculture...