Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin Outlet Channels

Following severe flooding events in 2011 and 2014, the Province of Manitoba retained KGS Group for the conceptual design of the Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin Outlet Channels Project. The outlet channels will serve as new, permanent flood control infrastructure for both lakes.

Completed under tight schedule restrictions, the work involved:

• remote field investigations
• extensive review and analysis of the various channel configurations
• preparation of conception designs, cost estimates and constructability reviews
• identification, assessment and screening of potential environmental and socio-economic impacts

The diverse range of design components and unique site conditions resulted in a challenging engineering undertaking that was successfully managed by the multidisciplinary team of experienced engineers, GIS technicians and support staff assembled by KGS Group.

Currently, KGS Group is continuing this work with the preliminary and final design, tender preparation, non-resident and resident contract administration for the outlet channel from Lake St. Martin to Lake Winnipeg. The project includes roughly 23 km of channel excavation, multiple drop structures, and construction of a water control structure near the channel inlet. The total estimated budget for this portion of the project is approximately $250 million.

Once constructed, the outlet channels are projected to maintain both lakes below flood stage over 99 per cent of the time. They will provide the ability to better regulate the lakes and reduce the impact of future floods, benefiting residents and businesses in the area.