Winnipeg consultants hired to find cause of Mud Lake flooding

The Newfoundland and Labrador government has hired more expertise from western Canada to determine why the Churchill River flooded homes along its banks in May.

The KGS Group of consultants, aWinnipeg-based company that specializes in hydroelectric and water resources, will meet with residents of Mud Lake later this month. A final report is expected by early September.

According to Municipal Affairs and Environment MinisterEddie Joyce, the firm was hired on the advice of an independent expert from the University of Saskatchewan, Karl-Erich Lindenschmidt, contractedearlier in the summer to review the flooding.

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About 80 people live in Mud Lake, near Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Most had to scramble to get out of their homes safely when the river rose quickly May 17.

Of the people whose homes were damaged, about 30 have signed on to a proposed class-action lawsuit, claiming the Muskrat Falls hydro project and its developer,Nalcor, are to blame for what happened.

The terms of reference for the consultants' review askthat KGS provide an explanation of why flooding occurred, what measures are needed to prevent future flooding and how residents can get advance warning if there is a problem.

As well, traditional knowledge of residents are tobe taken into account in drawing conclusions.

The work is expected to cost $95,000 plus HST.