Chief Dr. Stan Bird and the Peguis First Nation Council have issued consecutive flood safety notices this week as the community prepares for a significant spring runoff. With an evolving situation in the Interlake region, residents are being urged to stay alert as water levels are expected to rise by April 19, 2026, or possibly sooner.
The community is facing a tight window for preparation following a spring snowstorm on April 8 and 9 that dropped an estimated 20 to 25 centimetres of snow in the area. According to technical advisors, the frozen ground is currently making it difficult to deploy sandbags around homes effectively. The provincial Hydrologic Forecast Centre reports that the snow water equivalent in the Fisher River basin is approximately 113 millimetres, which is nearly double the long-term average and comparable to levels seen in previous flood years.
In response to the urgent conditions, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has provided an advance of $1 million to the community to support immediate flood efforts. The province has also requested assistance from the Canadian Armed Forces to provide technical support on the ground. Additionally, Team Rubicon Canada, a group of volunteers, has mobilized to assist with sandbagging efforts.
The community of Peguis has a documented history of flooding, having experienced an average of one flood every two years since 2000. This includes the major 2022 flood that displaced more than 2,100 people. The First Nation has also previously filed a lawsuit against federal and provincial governments, as well as the Rural Municipalities of Bifrost and Fisher, regarding the ongoing issue of chronic flooding in the area. The community was relocated to its current low-lying location along the Fisher River in 1907 following an illegal land surrender.
