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Friday, July 10, 2026

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Assiniboine closes in on record height

By Dale Davison

The Water Survey of Canada gauging station where Hwy 83 crosses the Assiniboine River south of Miniota recorded a height of 1246.46 feet on July 6. The record high level at that station was 1247.44 feet on July 9, 2014. This 2026 flood is predicted to peak on July 11 at close to or above that level.

Travelers in the valley have reported that the water is lapping at the bridge and has submerged local valley roads.

For the third time this year the Assiniboine has overflowed its banks, but this time is different. The previous flood saw the water rise about nine feet in nine days from July 10-19. This time the water rose 11 feet in five days from July 1-6 at the Miniota Assiniboine valley bridge.

Farther downstream municipalities are taking precautions.

Wednesday morning, the river is running just inches from the bottom of PR# 259 bridge northeast of Virden. The Town of Virden constructed a dike along the west shore of the Assiniboine on July 7 to protect the wells that supply Virden’s raw water. Town staff reports, “We have a backup plan that we're developing to minimize water service disruption.”

The valley crossing on road 254 in the RM of Wallace-Woodworth was classified as closed, except for ‘local traffic only’. And RM of Sifton closed Harrison Bridge Road as of 7:45pm Tuesday, July7.

Manitoba flood bulletin says “water levels are near peak at St. Lazare and are expected to peak in Brandon on or before July 13.”