Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin Outlet Channels

Why This Project Was Started

In 2011, southern Manitoba experienced widespread flooding and Lake Manitoba experienced high inflows through the Waterhen River, Whitemud River, and the Portage Diversion. This outlet project is intended to improve water regulation and reduce the likelihood of flooding on both Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin.

Environmental Management Plans

Manitoba Infrastructure has developed a number of draft environmental management and monitoring plans for the Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin Outlet Channels Project as part of the provincial and federal environmental assessment process. These draft plans propose environmental protection measures and monitoring activities that will be undertaken during construction and operation of the proposed Outlet Channel.

The draft environmental management and monitoring plans will be shared with Indigenous groups, communities, and stakeholders in three batches through November and December, 2020. Virtual open house events to present the plans and questionnaires to obtain feedback are available at https://manitobaoutletchannel.com/. Review, comment and feedback is welcome. Please feel free to answer the questionnaires on the Virtual Open House site or send comments directly to outletchannels@gov.mb.ca.

The environmental management plans currently available for feedback from November 16 to December 11, include:

• Environmental Management Plan Framework
• Construction Environmental Management Plan
• Operational Environmental Management Plan
• Project Environmental Requirements
• Aquatic Effects Management Plan
• Surface Water Management Plan
• Groundwater Management Plan
• Access Management Plan
• Revegetation Management Plan

The environmental management plans currently available for feedback from November 30 to December 30, include:

• Wildlife Monitoring Plan
• Sediment Management Plan
• Ice Management Plan
• Biosecurity Management Plan
• Environmental Protection Plan
• Quarry Management Plan
• Dust Control Plan
• Decommissioning Plan
• Aquatics Offset Plan

The environmental management plans currently available for feedback from December 7 to January 14, include:

• Heritage Resources Protection Plan
• Wetland Compensation Plan
• Eastern Whip-poor-will Mitigation Plan
• Red Headed Woodpecker Mitigation Plan
• Complaints Resolution Process

Where We’re At Now

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (Agency) and Manitoba Conservation and Climate (MCC) now reviews the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and all feedback. The Agency will draft an Environmental Assessment report that will be available for public comment. MCC prepares the Environment Act Licence which will be shared internally with other Manitoba government departments for their feedback.

This information is available in an alternate format upon request, please contact OutletChannels@gov.mb.ca.