May-long is typically the weekend Manitobans head to the cabin or cottage or campground. This has been an unusual winter and spring weather-wise and so you may not be surprised to find a monkey-wrench in your plans.
Manitoba Environment, Climate and Parks continue to advise all provincial park visitors to carefully check and monitor conditions before heading out this weekend as some campgrounds and trails are closed to help protect the health and safety of Manitobans.
Park visitors are reminded to obey road and trail closures and not attempt to drive through flooded areas or across damaged bridges.
The province announced both the Manipogo and Rainbow Beach provincial parks campgrounds have been closed because of wet conditions and soft ground. Travel is also not advised in Duck Mountain and Nopiming provincial parks as roads are washed out. All the campgrounds are closed in those areas.
Roads and highways through Whiteshell Provincial Park have multiple flooded areas and closed sections. In Whiteshell Provincial Park, the Otter Falls, Betula Lake and White Lake campgrounds are closed due to rising water levels on the Winnipeg and Whiteshell rivers. Travel is not advised to cottages and trails in the Betula Lake area.
Watercraft restrictions are in place in Nopiming and Whiteshell provincial parks to help protect flooded shorelines from erosion. Recreational motorboat traffic is prohibited from operating within 100 metres of shorelines. When exiting or approaching a shoreline, boats should move directly out from land and avoid creating a wake where possible. Several boat launches are closed in the Whiteshell and all traffic on Whiteshell lakes should be aware of debris and areas of floating bog.
If you are planning on going camping, please confirm that your campsite is still available, especially if it's in the Whiteshell Provincial Park.
Camp services such as drinking water and washrooms may be limited or reduced in some areas as a result of late spring conditions which are delaying the seasonal setup and operation of water lines. Campers are advised to plan accordingly for potential service reductions and pack adequate drinking water.
Meanwhile, Manitoba Infrastructure’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre is now issuing a high wind effect alert for lakes Winnipeg, Manitoba and Winnipegosis for Friday, May 20.
Strong, sustained winds from the north in the forecast will create a risk of ice pileup and cause water levels to rise along shorelines. Wave action could also add to the temporary increase in water levels. Wind speeds are forecast to be highest in the morning and will moderate by the afternoon. However, the risk of overland flooding will persist throughout the day.
Property owners along these shorelines are advised to remain vigilant and take any necessary precautions.
List of closures in Manitoba:
· Manipogo Provincial Park campground until at least May 27;
· Blue Lakes, Childs Lake, Singush Lake and Wellman Lake campgrounds in Duck Mountain Provincial Park until at least May 27;
· Adam Lake Campground in Turtle Mountain Provincial Park has a partial closure until at least May 27;
· Watchorn Provincial Park campground has a partial closure until at least May 27;
· Bird Lake, Beresford Lake, Black Lake, Shoe Lake and Tulabi Falls campgrounds in Nopiming Provincial Park are closed until at least June 2;
· Nutimik Lake and Opapiskaw campgrounds in Whiteshell Provincial Park have partial closures until at least June 2;
· St. Malo Provincial Park campground has a partial closure until at least June 2;
· Betula Lake, Otter Falls and White Lake campgrounds in Whiteshell Provincial Park until at least June 2;
· Rivers Provincial Park campground has a partial closure until at least June 2; and
· Lake St. George Provincial Park campground is closed until further notice.