Red River Basin Decision Information Network
On-Line Workshop
September 18, 2002 -- 12:00 PM CDT
Access Transcript

Web-Based Flood Decision Support
for Red River Valley Flood Prediction and Management

Rick Bowering
Water Branch, Manitoba Conservation
and
Nathan Diehl
Manitoba Region, Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration

A federal-provincial program is underway in Manitoba to enhance various flood protection infrastructure in the Red River Valley as well as the state of flood preparedness. One element of this partnership is a Web-Based Flood Decision Support for Red River Valley Flood Prediction and Management through the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) and Topographic Data. This extensive effort involves collection, assembly, and development of appropriate digital data sets relevant to flood forecasting, response, and management in the Red River Valley.

This initiative will develop decision-support tools and improve access to vital information for the general public and emergency personnel through a provincially-managed Internet site. These tools assist in flood prediction, management, and mitigation such as the ability to view the coverage of past floods and/or predicted floods in order to plan a defense strategy. Viewing models for a typical 1:100 or 1:500 year flood can assist with determining the level of protection required to defend people and property against various flood scenarios.

The various data sets and decision-support tools were developed and designed primarily for flood planning and management purposes but will also prove useful in landuse planning, assessments, and resource development. This online workshop acquainted participants with project background and use of the decision support tools.

About Rick Bowering
Rick Bowering has 32 years experience in the field of water management, both for flood control and water supply. As Manager of the Surface Water Management Section for the Province of Manitoba, he coordinates preparation of flood forecasts, streamflow monitoring, flood control structure operation, flood damage reduction studies, water supply studies, and reservoir regulation studies. He has a wide range of experience and expertise in the development and implementation of water plans. This includes feasibility studies, simulation modeling and recommendations. He has also been involved in numerous inter-governmental studies, boards, and task forces.

About Nathan Diehl
Nathan Diehl has been working with PFRA Manitoba Region for the past 2 years as the primary Application Developer for the Red River Flood Decision Support Project. He began the project after completing studies at the University of Saskatchewan in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. During his 5 and a half years of study he spent his summers working with PFRA in the small town of Watrous, Saskatchewan where he grew up. It was over the five summers of work there that he began building GIS based applications. In addition to the Red River project, he is also working on other web-based GIS applications such as the web-site for the Manitoba Riparian Health Council.