Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure is reminding river users to follow posted warning signs and stay clear of equipment, as the province begins its annual ice cutting program on the Red River to reduce the potential impacts of ice-jam related flooding. The ice-cutting and breaking work will start on Feb. 17 and is expected to be complete by March 10.

The ice-jam mitigation program began in 2006 and involves cutting and breaking river ice 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 downstream movement, 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 at 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. The province will continue to monitor ice conditions at the Portage Diversion until break-up occurs.

Safety notices will be posted in areas where the Amphibex machines will be working. River users, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts 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-jam mitigation program is taking place. Notices to remove ice fishing shacks will be posted in zones at least two weeks before the remove-by date. For more information and updates on Manitoba’s water conditions and forecasts, visit https://gov.mb.ca/mti/floodinfo/index.html.