The cut in a protective dike at the Hoop and Holler Bend on the Assiniboine River in Manitoba is sealed, but with rain in the forecast officials say the release of water could yet happen again.

The dike was breached May 14 as part of a plan to ease pressure on other flood-protection systems on the swollen river.

The breach created a flood of its own, but not as severe as might have occurred with an uncontrolled break somewhere else on the river.

The Assiniboine River is at record high levels from spring run-off.

In the latest flood bulletin, issued by the province Saturday, officials said the breach was sealed around noon on Friday.

"There is a remote possibility that the release point could be reopened if there are issues on the Portage Diversion channel or along the Assiniboine River dikes," the province reported.

Residents in the controlled release area were being told to maintain their flood protection structures for at least another week.

Officials added that rain in southern Manitoba may cause water levels to rise on the Souris and Assiniboine Rivers, however they said it was not likely the water would rise higher than it already has.

Water from the river ends up in Lake Manitoba and rising waters there has property owners working long hours to build sandbag dikes.

Volunteers have rallied to the sandbag cause in several communities, including the St. Laurent and Twin Beaches areas where the province said some 500,000 sandbags were available.

Motorists pass a wall of sandbags holding back the flood waters from the Assiniboine River in Brandon. Ryan Remiorz/CPHowever there were unconfirmed reports of isolated homes that had water coming into the yard, with no protection in place.

"Cottagers are encouraged to put flood structures in place to protect their property and to move cottage contents to safer and higher ground," officials said in the bulletin.

In Brandon, Man., the province said local businesses in an area that had been evacuated might be able to reopen on Tuesday.

The city of Brandon said Saturday that the Assiniboine River had gone down 19 centimetres since Friday and was expected to drop another 91 centimetres by the end of May.