CANMORE – The ice jam on the Bow River caused by extremely cold temperatures has yet to cause any flooding within Canmore during the extremely cold temperatures.
Town of Canmore staff say fluctuations in groundwater levels are expected throughout the community, including areas like Spring Creek and Policeman’s Creek, because of increased water flow in the Bow River due to power generation upstream.
“We have not experienced any flooding and will continue to monitor over the coming days, providing updates if needed,” said Town of Canmore spokesperson Adam Robertson.
“We are asking people to stay away from river banks and off the ice; it is unstable and unpredictable.”
The ice jam formed in the main channel of the Bow River at the Canmore Engine Bridge on Friday (Jan. 12), and water levels rose along the berm near Lions Park.
Bow River Basin warned that trails and low-lying areas may be affected by localized flooding as water levels rose over the weekend with the build-up of ice in the river in the dangerously cold temperatures.
“We continue to monitor the situation and remain confident that the threat to critical infrastructure and to private property is low,” states the Town of Canmore.
The extreme cold alert has been lifted as temperatures begin to climb this week.
According o Environment Canada, Canmore will reach a high of minus 17 and 19 degrees Celsius Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, with periods of snow. By the weekend, temperatures are back up in the minus 7 C range.
Due to the ice jam, Alberta Parks also issued an advisory for Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park, Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park and Bow Valley Provincial Park locations adjacent to the Bow River within the Town of Canmore.
Here’s what residents and visitors need to know, according to the municipality.
• Under no circumstances should anyone be on the river, river ice, or creek ice for any reason.
• Fluctuating water levels create unsafe ice. Even ice that appears stable is not.
• Thin ice, hallows beneath the surface, and rapidly flowing water present immediate life threatening circumstances should anyone fall through ice.
• All major pathways remain open at this time. Please respect any pathway closures; they are in place to help protect the public from rapidly changing water levels and the potential need for rescues.
FROM SUNDAY, JANUARY 14
CANMORE – An ice jam watch has been issued for the Bow River in Canmore following extremely low temperatures.
The ice jam formed in the main channel of the Bow River at the Canmore Engine Bridge on Friday (Jan. 12), and water levels rose along the berm near Lions Park.
Bow River Basin warned that trails and low lying areas may be affected by localized flooding as water levels rise over the weekend with ice continuing to build up in the dangerously cold temperatures.
The Town of Canmore has been monitoring the ice jam since Friday after getting reports of increased water flow into the channel that parallels Larch Island.
Alpine Helicopters flew over Friday to check out the scene from above.
Officials say there are no immediate threats to infrastructure at this time.
“We have been monitoring the situation overnight and into today (Jan. 13), and we are confident that the threat to critical infrastructure or to private property is low,” states a Town of Canmore Facebook post.
“While the threat to infrastructure is low, there is a significant risk to public safety because of unstable and unpredictable ice conditions on the Bow River and rapidly flowing water beneath the surface.”
Fluctuating water in the river will create hallows under the ice, thin ice, or unseen ice build-up.
“Even ice that appears stable is not, and members of the public should be aware that under no circumstances should anyone be on the river or river ice for any reason,” states the Town.
“Do not risk your life or the lives of first responders to photograph the landscape or to get a closer look at the river. “
Pathways remain open at this time, but the municipality will continue to monitor the situation and is prepared to close trails if necessary.
“Residents and visitors who would like to access the river pathways are strongly encouraged to stay clearly on the trail and away from the banks,” says the Town of Canmore.
Extremely low temperatures on Friday (Jan. 12) set records across the province, including in Banff and the Bow Valley.
According to Environment Canada, Banff dipped to a low of -39.8 C Friday. The old record was -39.4 C was set in 1916.
