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Ice-breaking underway in Manitoba as annual flood fight begins

By: The Canadian Press

Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013 at 3:27 PM | Comments: 0

ST. ANDREWS, Man. - Manitoba's annual fight to prevent flooding is underway.

Three amphibious ice-breaking machines have started punching holes in the frozen Red River, in an attempt to ensure the river doesn't back up when the spring thaw begins.

Premier Greg Selinger says the ice is thick and there is a lot of snow on the ground this year, but the soil was very dry in the fall, so that could help reduce the chance of major flooding.

He says the government will issue its first flood forecast of the year next Wednesday.

Manitoba's low-lying, flat river valleys are prone to spring flooding as meltwater comes in from as far away as The Rockies.

The last bad year was in 2011, when thousands of people were evacuated.

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