Homeowners and crews continued to brace Monday for rising waters following an intentional dike breach carried out by the province in its flood fight on the weekend.
Officials started the controlled release of water from the Assiniboine River at Hoop and Holler Bend, southeast of Portage la Prairie, on Saturday morning to ease pressure on other dikes.
Provincial officials said the Assiniboine River's flows into the Portage Reservoir are now expected to crest around May 17 or May 18.
Flows from the deliberate dike breach have moved slowly overland and have now entered the Elm River as expected, said officials Monday.
Some farmers near Hoop and Holler Bend were out seeding crops on Monday.
"If we don't sow and we don't flood, will they compensate us? If you sow and it floods, what are they going to say, ‘you're stupid,' so we're caught," said Ed Connery.
The province said three homes had been surrounded by water following the controlled release, but dikes were continuing to hold Monday.
In the community of Newton, homeowners are still preparing.
"We know we're going to have water coming. What we've done in the last week is (to protect) our property as much as we can," said Brian Wilson, a homeowner in Newton.
Canadian soldiers have already helped to protect 75 homes around Newton and on Monday were working on protecting three more, using berms or water-filled dikes.
"We are checking the dikes we've created, or the berms we've created, to make sure there aren't any issues. The civilian organization is tracking the water flow. If they need our assistance, they let us know," said Capt. Michael Timmins from the Canadian military.
"The military is here. The resources are here, so we're really hoping the losses to property will be minimal," said Brian Wilson.
The province said the water is slow moving. Low flows of water will continue to be released for the next two days and than will double.
Penny Wilson worries that farmers and homeowners won't get as much back as they need.
"I'm concerned we're going to take a hit, a financial loss, which if it's a natural disaster, you know bad things happen, but this is a man-made event," said Wilson.
The province previously announced it would create a special compensation program, in addition to the pre-existing disaster relief program.
"Once we get through the worst of this, we will have a special compensation program that will address people's property damage, income losses and recovery requirements," said Selinger.
The province said about 400 cubic feet per second is making its way through the breach point and is now going into the Elm River, which will eventually flow into the La Salle River.
At the current speed, the water flowing now is expected to reach the La Salle River in less than a week.
The military is also travelling to inspect and reinforce about 14 soft or weak spots along dikes, to guard against those breaching and possibly causing more flooding, said provincial officials.
On the weekend, officials said the area expected to be affected by flows from the deliberate breach had been reduced from 225 square kilometres to 180 square kilometres.
- with reports from CTV's Caroline Barghout and Eleanor Coopsammy
