Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 9.3
The Winnipeg floodway
in 90 year flood was not adequate, led to a widening of the channel and upgraded
control gates between 2005-2012 costing $ 665 million (FA). This increased its
flow capacity ability by over 60 %, predicted to be enough to prevent a 1 in 700 year
flood, although all such probabilities of flood returns are being questioned, given
global warming (FA).
Such expenditure would have been unnecessary if more caution had been taken
in the location of the city. In 1881, when the transcontinental Canadian Pacific Rail-
way was being built, engineers were aware that the small town of Winnipeg and its
predecessor, the fur trading fort of Ft Gary, were subject to regular high flooding in
spring and also with summer flash floods. This was a result of a flat environment
