WINNIPEG - Officials in Manitoba are considering the unusual step of operating the Winnipeg floodway before ice has melted to save the city from a serious deluge when the Red River crests next week.
Steve Topping, director at Manitoba Water Stewardship, said activating the floodway next Wednesday as river levels rise to just over six metres could spare some neighbourhoods.
But he said using the floodway early creates the potential of ice jams around city bridges and rising water levels south of the city.
"There are risks -- unknown risks -- because we're in territory we've never been in before," Topping said Friday. "This is an unusual year with unprecedented ice conditions, so contingency plans have been developed to address these unique circumstances."
Officials plan to make the call Wednesday morning if thick ice on the river hasn't started to melt, he said.
Flood forecasters are predicting the province will see water levels slightly below Manitoba's second worst flood in 1979. Winnipeg is expected to be hit with a series of crests -- the first and highest around April 9.
The city has never had to deal with such stubborn ice at the same time as a crest on the Red River, Topping said.
"The floodway was put in place to protect the city of Winnipeg," Topping said. "The intention is to operate the floodway should imminent flooding potentially take place within the city of Winnipeg."
Ice-breakers will be ready to smash up any ice blocks that build up within the city. Topping said water levels will rise rapidly south of the city once the floodway is activated, but homes in that area are protected to withstand levels higher than those seen during the so-called flood of the century in 1997.
"The rise and subsequent crest will be well below that protection," he said, although some roads and land will be flooded.
Officials are still hopeful gradually rising temperatures will cause the ice to start moving before flood waters arrive.
In the meantime, emergency measures co-ordinators say volunteers have been putting their time to good use.
Don Brennan, acting executive director of Manitoba's Emergency Measures Organization, said volunteers north of Winnipeg are producing 3,500 sandbags an hour. There is a "party atmosphere" at the sandbagging depots, he said.
"There aren't too many positive things that can come out of flooding. But one thing flooding does is it unites communities. The communities themselves are all working as one. They're working to assist each other. The team spirit is alive and well in Manitoba."
So far, Brennan said, there have been enough volunteers, but the cold snap that has staved off the spring melt has also thrown a wrench into sandbagging operations.
Freezing temperatures at night mean sandbags can't be stored outside, he said. Sand has to be heated and bagged quickly without getting wet -- no small feat when there is still snow on the ground.
"Once they are in place, it's fine. It's just very hard to work with when it's wet and frozen."
This year has been particularly difficult on flood fighters. Not only are some homes being threatened by the crest of the river, but many are affected by ice jams or blocked culverts that leave melting snow with nowhere to go.
Ice jams have already flooded some homes in communities around Lockport, north of Winnipeg. Almost 800 people from Roseau River First Nation were also forced to leave their homes, although half of them have now been allowed to return.
