After a long winter, the spring flood fight is now underway. Crews in the Rural Municipality of Springfield are fanning out across the municipality, targeting ditches that have become packed with snow over the past several months. “This is something we prepare for all year long,” said Blaine Moffat, director of public works for the rural municipality. At the moment, the effort is two-pronged. In Oakbank, near homes and condos, wheeled excavators are scooping snow and breaking up hardened ice that has accumulated in densely populated areas. “It helps all the water get out of the town quicker,” said Public Works Supervisor Chris Kellner. “And, if we don’t do this, there’ll be lots of flooding.” In more rural areas, crews have deployed a bulldozer equipped with a V-plow. “He’ll go down into the bottom of the ditch and open up some of the bigger ditches to take the snow out so the water flows easier,” said Kellner. Ensuring water can flow freely is critical to preventing overland flooding, making it essential to clear snow and ice from ditches before temperatures rise. “In the event we get a real quick thaw, that water is going to come, you know, fast and furious,” predicted Moffat. Officials say snowfall levels this year have not been excessive, and there has not yet been a sudden heat wave to trigger rapid melting. “So far Mother Nature is on our side,” said Kellner. However, officials caution there is still a long way to go, with significant work remaining in the weeks ahead.
