Reeve of the Rural Municipality of Cartier, Christa Vann Mitchell, says August 20th's heavy rains left a trail of damage, raising concerns for local farmers trying to reach their fields.
While some areas west of Portage la Prairie fared better, places closer to the La Salle River struggled with sewer backups and flooding. She explains that the unexpected rainfall overwhelmed drainage systems, partly because sump pumps and weeping tiles in many homes feed directly into municipal sewers.
She adds that the RM plans an education campaign to encourage residents to maintain check valves and sump pumps, ensuring they can handle extreme weather in the future.
Lessons from past flooding
Vann Mitchell continues that this is not the first time the municipality has faced such challenges. In 2021, extreme rainfall caused more than $1.4 million in damage to culverts and drainage systems.
Crews quickly inspected manholes and released lagoon water to free up space for future storms. She says the public works department is doing everything possible to avoid another emergency.
Preparing residents
Vann Mitchell notes that many newcomers from the city may not realize the importance of installing backup valves or following proper maintenance schedules. She says the RM is aiming to roll out the education campaign in October, once investigations are complete.
She adds that sporadic rainfall left some areas, including Elie, particularly hard hit, with reports ranging from three to six inches. Portage la Prairie also saw significant precipitation, prompting municipal crews to remain on alert over the weekend.
Hoping for dry weather
Vann Mitchell continues that farmers now need a week to 10 days of dry conditions before they can safely enter their fields to harvest crops. She says while the ground is saturated, much of the standing water is hidden by tall crops.
She notes there were some home sewer backups, mostly in older properties with plumbing failures or missing backwater valves. Insurance claims have been made, but the municipality cannot confirm all causes.
Vann Mitchell adds that while the soil had been dry before, the rain left it fully saturated, creating ideal conditions for mosquitoes.
She continues that the municipality is keeping a close watch on drainage systems and culverts, especially with harvest season underway. Protecting farmers’ ability to reach their land remains a top priority.
Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon.
Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@portageonline.com.
PortageOnline encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the PortageOnline app.