Frazil ice causes flooding at Waterhen, forcing 10 out of homes

WINNIPEG – Water is rising and 10 people have left their homes because of a frazil ice jam on the Waterhen River in Manitoba.

The province reported Monday that seven permanent residences and 14 cottages had water under them and in crawl spaces.

Waterhen, a community of fewer than 200 permanent residents 275 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, is under a state of emergency.

The evacuees are staying with family or friends in the community, while three people are staying in homes within the evacuation area, the province said.

Permanent dikes, including some built recently to protect the school and council building, are holding well, but some lower, private dikes have had water flow over them, the province said.

Temporary earth dikes have been built in one subdivision and the community’s public works and fire department crews are helping to pump the water out.

The Waterhen River is moving quickly due to high water levels, preventing surface ice from forming. However, recent cold temperatures have cooled the river to below freezing, creating slush that can form plugs in the river. Those plugs, which jam in shallower areas of the river, create a dam that forces water to back up and rise.

Frazil ice is also causing high river levels on the Dauphin River near Lake St. Martin, but so far, water levels are not affecting homes.

A thin ice advisory has also been issued for rivers and lakes in southern Manitoba. Snowmobilers, skiers and others are advised not to venture onto waterways.