River Watch program begins in New Brunswick

Flood water from the Saint John River covers Bourque Lane in Fredericton, New Brunswick on Thursday April 20, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Stephen MacGillivray

The annual River Watch program launched Wednesday in New Brunswick.

The River Watch program provides New Brunswickers with updates on the status of rivers, potential ice jams or flood risks across the province.

Teams from the Department of Environment, local government and the Department of Justice and Public Safety will be monitoring the melting of ice and snow around water courses, particularly the Saint John River Basin.

“We are asking New Brunswickers to remain vigilant and to not underestimate the potential for impacts,” said Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin in a news release. “We recognize that the province has been spared from significant flooding in recent years, but waterways are always a threat this time of year.”

During the River Watch season, New Brunswickers are advised to:

• prepare for potential flooding, have a plan to evacuate and ensure they can be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours.
• move valuable belongings to higher ground if their property is near a waterway or flood-prone area.
• avoid riverbanks, which can become hazardous with cold water, fast currents and debris.
• avoid crossing waterways on foot, by vehicle or on snowmobiles or ATVs as ice deteriorates and becomes unsafe.
• call the toll-free river watch line, 1-888-561-4048, for recorded updates on water levels, forecasts and advisories.
• get road conditions and closures by calling 511 or checking online.
• stay informed by visiting the river watch website for tips, forecasts and advisories, or follow the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization on Facebook.
• report significant ice jams or rising water levels to the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization at 1-800-561-4034.

“Flood forecasting relies on the ability of New Brunswick’s Hydrology Centre to analyze several key factors, including anticipated temperature variations, snowmelt, river ice movement, and forecasted rainfall,” said Environment and Climate Change Minister Gilles LePage in the release.

“The Hydrology Centre does exceptional work to provide accurate forecasting, but these factors can shift quickly, so we encourage residents not to wait, but to get ready now.”

River Watch officials collect data from several sources to develop river models and forecasts which are made available through the River Watch mobile site.

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.