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The Price of Mismanagement   Specific instances of flooding and erosion damage along the Manitoba Escarpment have been well documented, and financial impacts have been particularly severe in South-central Manitoba near Miami. In 1979, a one in 50 year Spring runoff event resulted in substantial problems for local governments and landowners.     The flood damage was extensive. Here a road required expensive repairs. The question: How to reduce or avoid damage like this in the future? Erosion and flooding problems have been well documented within two watersheds (North and South Tobacco Creeks) in the region. At one site, total damages for the 1979 event have officially been estimated to have occurred over 580 ha. (1440 ac.), with associated total costs of $320,000. Additionally, a second site experienced flooding and erosion over 3000 ha. (7500 ac.) with damages estimated at $1,200,000. This site also experienced a severe thunderstorm event in 1986, affecting 1800 ha (4500 ac.) and costing $340,000. Total average annual damages in 1986 dollars were: $55,000 and $210,000 for each site respectively (Manitoba Escarpment Headwater Storage Steering Committee, 1988) (Photos)  For nearly 30 years, a solution has been sought to alleviate the severe erosion and flooding which often occurs along the Manitoba Escarpment. In the Miami region, local, provincial, and federal government attention focused on the Tobacco Creek. Previous efforts have focused largely on conventional attempts to control the impacts of water flow using dikes, by increasing drainage capacity, or by building large water storage reservoirs.    In fact, as early as 1971, Canada's Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration was working on large scale flood damage reduction plans for the region. At that time, a large reservoir upstream from Miami was proposed, but it could not quite be justified economically.  In comparison, small dams were and still are more easily afforded and constructed. Here is an aerial view of one of our dams along the Manitoba Escarpment. Small and effective. Next | Home | Back http://www.deerwood.mb.ca/mismgnt.html