'Unbelievable' Red River levels close road, raise spring flooding concerns: St. Clements mayor

The mayor of a rural municipality north of Winnipeg says the Red River levels for this time of year are almost "unbelievable," after high water levels forced the closure of part of a highway in her area this week.

A portion of Highway 204in the RMof St. Clements was closed Wednesday due to water on the roadway a sightnot usually seen until spring, saysRM of St. Clements MayorDebbie Fiebelkorn.

She noticed the water level rising Tuesday afternoon, she told CBC's Radio Noon, but saw it had risen even higher by Wednesday morning.

"I was a little surprised when I got up this morning and heard that [Highway 204] was closed,"Fiebelkornsaid. "It's very, very unusual for this time of year."

One of the wettest Septembers on recordand an October snowstorm of unprecedented magnitudelikelyplayed a role in the high water levels. But Fiebelkorn saidwind blowing from the south may be keeping the waternorth.

Though she hopes the water level willreturn to seasonal norms,the St. Clements mayor is concerned about what it will mean come springtime.

"This is November the water is higher than it normally is, there's a lot of moisture in the ground, and if we have a lot of snow over the winter, it's not looking like we're going to have a very good spring at this point in time," she said.

High water levels have affected another low roadin the area. A road often used by firefightersfromHenderson Highway to Pine Ridge has been closed since October, and Fiebelkorn said the RM is unsure if it will be able to reopen this fall.

Temperatures above freezingare forecast for southern Manitobathis weekend, but Fiebelkorn doesn't think that will affect the river, which has frozen slightly in some areas, and has an ice jam near Netley Creek.

No residents areindanger because of the water levels yet, Fiebelkorn said, and the community's flood protection is working. But she added that if anyone has concerns or needs help, they can contact the RM.

The recent high water levelsalso forced the province to operate the Red River Floodway last month the first time it had ever been used in the fall.

OnThursday, the province announced a compensation program forpeople whose property was damaged, or who sustained economic losses, because of the floodway operation.

The province is working to determine the extent of artificial flooding.

People with impacts related to the fall operation of the floodway can contact the Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization to apply for compensation online, or by phone at 204-945-3050 or1-888-267-8298.