Ice chunks spill onto road as N.B. River Watch program continues

As ice breaks up, the annual river watch campaign in New Brunswick is underway.

A little over a week after New Brunswick launched its annual River Watch program, those who live along the Saint John River are seeing the effects of ices floes and rising water levels.

Simonds, N.B., has entered flood levels and some areas have seen large chunks of ice pushed onto the road, barging through guard rails in the process.

Two other communities are in “watch” level. In both Hartland and Woodstock, a forecast of where the water levels are heading is unpredictable due to the ice jams happening upriver.

Geoffrey Downey, communications officer with New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization (EMO), says there is still a lot of snow in the northern forests, and the speed at which that snow melts could play a big factor in rising river levels.

“We’ve had a couple families who needed to be evacuated because there was water around their homes, in one case, a basement,” says Downey. “What we’re really hoping people will do is pay attention.”

Downey adds while EMO can predict natural river flood levels four to five days out, ice jam flooding “just happens.”

“Anyone who’s new to an area to ask their neighbors, ‘Hey, does it tend to flood here?’” suggests Downey. “We’re really hoping everyone’s paying attention and has made some preparations just in case it does flood.”

All other communities along the Saint John River are either in flood advisory – meaning water levels are two metres below flood levels – or the water highest is normal.

The Saint John River in Fredericton is now open water. EMO is projecting the river’s level will sit just below the ‘watch criteria’ into next week.

It’s a similar scene in Saint John. The area is in flood advisory and is projected to remain at that level into next week.

Residents can stay up to date on the river levels and their forecast online.

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.