Winnipeg Floodway

(Also known as Duff's ditch named after Duff Roblin the Manitoba premier at the time it was constructed)

The 1950 flooding of the Red River caused the evacuation of 100,000 people. 10,500 homes were flooded.

University of Manitoba Campus (1950) More pictures of the 1950 flood

Primary dykes were constructed in 1950 along the rivers running through Winnipeg.

The governments of Canada and Manitoba decided that the construction of a floodway would be the most effective measure to prevent future flooding by the Red River. A 47-kilometre waterway was built around the east side of the city of Winnipeg. The Floodway, almost as wide as the Red River itself, allows the Red River to split into two just south of Winnipeg. When the Red River starts to overflow its banks, the gates are raised to back flow up into the flood and prevent it from flowing through the city of Winnipeg.

From the date of completion in1968 to 1996 (prior to 1997 flood) the floodway was used 22 times, preventing 2B$ in damage.

The floodway has four components: inlet control structure east and west dykes floodway channel outlet control structure