Residents of Clarksburg are concerned about flooding at a time of year when flooding isn’t usually a problem.
Ice crystals, known as “frazil ice”, are blocking the flow of water along the Beaver River, causing flooding in some nearby homes.
Frazil ice is formed when fast water flows through rapids in extremely cold weather.
Clarksburg resident Julia Foley had to evacuate her home because of the rising water levels.
“(We) got up at 9 and the kitchen was under four inches of water,” she said. “By 10 it started coming into the living room too, which is the higher level. Then all of a sudden it started to rush in and I just evacuated.”
The river continued to flow toward Bill Dennis’ home where he has four pumps running to try to keep the water out.
Dennis says residents want the MNR to lower water levels at the dam downstream in Thornbury.
“Our thought now that if the water in the mill pond was to be lowered even in December it would help prevent what's going on right now,” he said.
The ministry says the dam is being operated within its water management plan, and that frazil ice experts say lowering levels at the damn won’t influence the formation of frazil ice in Clarksburg.
Town Of Blue Mountains officials have brought in machinery to clear the ice so that the flooding will stop.
“Currently we have two excavators on sight,” said Jim McCanell, who is in charge of roads and drainage for the town.
“We are just trying to remove some of the slush and chunks of ice out of the river to keep the water flowing and let it get down the river. We have a blockage in the river and we can't quite reach it, so that's what our concern is right now.”
Town officials say they’ll have machines working around the clock to help keep the water flowing.
