Ice-cutting begins on Red River

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This article was published 20/02/2024 (955 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The province began cutting ice along the Red River north of Winnipeg on Tuesday to reduce the risk of ice jams.

The cutting and breaking of ice from Netley Marsh to Selkirk is expected to be completed on March 15. About 28 kilometres of ice, at an approximate width of 100 metres, will be cut using remote-controlled units and three Amphibex icebreakers.

Notices will be posted in areas where the ice-cutting machines are operating.

Ice jams occur when floating ice causes water to back up and potentially overflow banks.

Ice-cutting work is not expected to be needed on the Icelandic River or at the outlet of the Portage Diversion this year, the Manitoba government said in a news release.