The Manitoba government’s annual ice cutting has begun this weekend on the Red River to reduce the potential for ice jam-related flooding.
“The yearly ice-jam mitigation is part of the province’s strategic flood control operations to protect Manitobans and reduce potential damages that may result from an ice-jam event,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk. “We urge Manitobans to use caution on the ice, watch for notices and keep safe distances from all ice-cutting and equipment.”
The ice-jam mitigation program, which consists of cutting and breaking river ice, was launched in 2006 to reduce the risk of flooding caused by ice jams on the lower Red River and several other rivers. Ice jams form when floating ice is blocked from moving downstream, forcing water to backup and raise water levels on rivers.
Remote-controlled ice-cutting units and three Amphibex icebreakers are used each year to cut and break approximately 28 kilometres of ice on the Red River from Selkirk to Netley Marsh for an approximate width of 100 metres. Ice-cutting and breaking is also often completed on the Icelandic River at Riverton and at the outlet of the Portage Diversion.
Notices have been posted in areas where the ice-cutting machines will be working and river users are advised as a safety reminder to stay off the ice where notices are posted or where evidence of recent ice-cutting and breaking is apparent. Ice fishers are also reminded to remove huts or other materials in the areas covered by the ice-jam mitigation program.
The Manitoba government has contracted Winnipeg Environmental Remediations Inc. (WERI) to conduct the ice-cutting and breaking. WERI is a Manitoba company that owns and operates the icebreaking and ice-cutting equipment.
