Assiniboine Slips Slightly — City Crews Hold the Line in Brandon
Brandon officials say the Assiniboine River has finally begun to ease after a rapid surge that pushed the city into high‑alert mode earlier this week. In a Tuesday update, the city reported water levels at 1st Street have dropped just over three inches—about eight centimetres—since the river crested. While the decline is welcome, the river remains high and will take several days to return to more typical mid‑July levels.
The Assiniboine rose roughly 2.3 metres in less than a week, driven by upstream runoff and heavy rainfall across parts of the watershed. Mayor Jeff Fawcett said the city is maintaining full flood‑response operations, noting that elevated levels can still stress infrastructure and create hazards along the riverbank. Crews continue reinforcing dikes, monitoring pumps, and checking vulnerable areas for seepage.
Officials caution that the situation could shift again if significant rainfall hits the Assiniboine or Shellmouth basins. Even a moderate system could slow the river’s decline or trigger a secondary rise. Residents are asked to avoid riverbanks, where soft ground and fast‑moving water pose safety risks, and to follow official alerts as conditions evolve.
The city says it will provide further updates as water levels continue to fall and flood‑response operations scale down. For now, Brandon remains in a watchful posture—encouraged by the early drop, but prepared for any changes in the days ahead.
