It is a sign that spring is around the corner.
Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure announced Tuesday that it will begin its annual ice-cutting program this week along the Red River. The ice-cutting and breaking work is done to reduce the potential impacts of ice-jam-related flooding.
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 other rivers. Ice jams occur when floating ice blocks the downstream movement of water, causing water to back up and potentially overflow riverbanks.
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 Netley Marsh to Selkirk over a width of approximately 100 metres. Ice-cutting and breaking operations are frequently undertaken on the Icelandic River at Riverton and the outlet of the Portage Diversion. Currently, ice-cutting operations are planned for Riverton but are not expected to be required at the Portage Diversion, so the province will continue to monitor this area.
Notices will be posted in areas where the ice-cutting machines are operating. River users are advised to stay off the ice where notices are posted or where evidence of recent ice cutting is apparent. Ice fishers are also reminded to remove huts or other materials in the areas where the ice-mitigation program is taking place.
The ice-cutting and breaking work will start on Tuesday and is expected to be wrapped up by March 15th.