The reeve of the RM of Portage la Prairie likes what he hears in proposed changes to the way the Portage diversion is managed.

The report was released this summer, and calls for more balance between how much water's sent to Lake Manitoba, and how much continues east in the Assiniboine River.

Kam Blight calls it good news, but stresses it doesn't solve the problem of when the river and diversion are maxed out, like in 2011 and 2014.

"So, they're not really increasing those flows. What they're doing is taking a look at the timing of things, and what the over-all impact will be, versus sending more into the lake, versus more coming down the Assiniboine River. I think that they're taking a more measured approach to it, which I really do like. Unfortunately, we are still going to be possibly faced with the times when everything's all maxed out, and that's a real concern for us."

Blight describes the recommendations as a first step in over-all flood mitigation efforts.

"They're going to take into the consideration the impact on Lake Manitoba when they're sending more water down. They'll also take a look at the impact of sending water down the Assiniboine River, how it's going to impact homeowners further down, and agricultural land at that time. But I also think they really need to make sure the proper mitigation is in place to protect these home and these properties. They need to make sure that channel is built up north."

He adds Council will have discussions with the province on the report.

"Getting their take on things, trying to figure out what their thoughts and their future plans, and we're going to continue to push the issue. But not just this issue -- but re-fortifying the Assiniboine River dikes, as well as getting that channel built in Lake Manitoba. That right there, to me, is paramount, it's critical, to really take a lot of pressure off the flood infrastructure in our area."

The province hasn't made any decisions on the report.