About the BVWI Project Details Project Benefits News FAQ Links Contact About the Boyne Valley Water Initiative The proposed project consists of a new dam constructed on the Boyne River downstream of Treherne. The dam would store 24,300 acre-ft of water to increase the supply available for municipal, irrigation, and other uses in the region, particularly during periodic droughts or low summer flow periods. The dam could also assist in reducing flood flows in the reach between Treherne and Stephenfield. The new storage would provide greater flexibility in the management of the limited water resources in the watershed and surrounding region. Firm flows in the watershed are already fully allocated. Given the water shortages experienced in the past, this increased supply and management flexibility is required under existing hydrologic conditions, and becomes even more critical under any modified hydrologic conditions that may arise as a result of climate change. The new reservoir would be filled using flow stored during the spring freshet of the Boyne River (once sufficient flows had been released to assist in filling up the Stephenfield Reservoir located downstream) as well as water diverted from the  Assniniboine River. Any diversions would occur only during periods when the Assninboine flows significantly exceed the current and future allocations downstream of the diversion intake, either during spring freshet in April to May, when much of the Assiniboine flows in this reach are diverted to Lake Manitoba for flood protection, or during the late fall when Shellmouth Reservoir is drawn down for winter. Brief History: PFRA completed several studies in the ‘60’s. The idea was picked up by South Norfolk Treherne CDC in 2000 because of changes in agricultural practices and the development of the Simplot facility at Portage. Farmers were encouraged to grow potatoes, but needed irrigation. Fall 2001 – KGS Group and P.M. Associates were hired to investigate the project and estimate the economic benefits based solely on irrigation. The study cost: $75,000 from local councils and Surplus Water Irrigation Initiative. Study completed July 2002. Summer 2007 – KGS hired to study the Water Allocation & Demand on the Boyne River and to update the Costs of the Treherne Dam Project. The studies cost: $98,500 from the Canada/Manitoba Water Supply Expansion Program, local councils and Pembina Valley Water Co-op. Studies completed June 2008. Summer 2008 – KGS hired to investigate, choose best site and study geo-technical conditions to determine the slopes and ergo, the costs of the project. The studies cost: $306,000 from MAFRI Irrigation Development Program and PFRA under the Canada/Manitoba Water Supply Expansion Program, local councils and Pembina Valley Water Co-op. Study completed July 2009. KGS Group concluded that this project is technically feasible, but will be challenging, that readings from the equipment installed in the test holes should continue to be monitored, and that further study is needed in the areas of engineering, environment and economics. All of these studies could be conducted concurrently, but the total cost is $500,000. Due to the nature of the soils in the area, the slopes will have to be 16H:1V, very gradual. The cost to build the dam is estimated to be $ 69,000,000 with an additional $7,000,000 for the diversion from the Assiniboine River. The $69M includes the costs for the remaining feasibility studies and 20% contingency.

Boyne Valley Water Initiative Box 344, 180 Broadway St., Treherne, Manitoba, Canada R0G 2V0 phone: (204)723-2774 Fax: (204)723-2719 XXXX@boynevalleywater.com