Southern Manitoba municipalities face over $1 million in ditch cleanup costs after May 14 windstorm

Winds topping 100 km/h on May 14 carried topsoil from fields into roadside ditches in several southern Manitoba municipalities. The displaced soil now blocks drainage channels and raises the risk of flooding during heavy summer rains. Cleanup crews have identified 136 sites requiring work in one municipality. Nine backhoes and two additional pieces of heavy equipment are removing the material.

Cost estimates and timeline Initial cost projections for the affected municipality range from $500,000 to $1 million. Officials say the work could finish in roughly two weeks if weather conditions remain favorable. One municipality is considering declaring a state of emergency to accelerate the removal process, though officials state the soil does not present an immediate safety hazard.

Neighboring areas report limited damage A neighboring municipality reported only minor damage at a few sites, with restoration costs estimated between $16,000 and $20,000. Officials there credited an existing shelterbelt program with limiting soil loss.

The wind event occurred during a critical period for crop planting, and officials note that some fields may have sustained additional damage from the high winds.