This past Friday, the cities of Laval and Terrebonne were waiting for the Canadian Coast Coast Guard to undertake an ice-breaking operation on the Mille Îles River.
(Photo: Martin Alarie)
Ice jams on the Mille Îles River
Intervention of Canadian Coast Guard requested
To deal with an ice jam that developed over the past few days on the Mille Îles River, the cities of Laval and Terrebonne jointly requested the Canadian Coast Guard to intervene, asking for a hovercraft to come on site.
As of mid-day Friday, it was expected that the Coast Guard would undertake an ice-breaking operation to dislodge an accumulated ice mass that was making its way east, in the Saint François district.
"It's a question of the immediate destruction of the ice jam, to prevent other jams from forming," explained Éric Thériault, assistant chief of staff to the mayor of Terrebonne.
Rain and warm temperatures of the past few days created faster currents that could easily lead to flooding if the accumulated ice obstructs the waterway.
In Terrebonne, the risk of flooding has been assessed as low. A street near the river experienced mild flooding on Thursday, but no evacuations were needed.
In Laval
"For the moment (Friday), there's no reason to sound the alarm. The level is rising but at relatively slow pace," explains Nathalie Lorrain, responsible for communications at the Laval Police Department. As of Friday, no houses had been flooded in Laval.
The Mille Îles and des Prairies rivers were put on the at risk list for thawing and flooding, with possibilities that water levels could reach historic heights for this time of the year.
As of Thursday noon, the Civil Protection and Emergency Measures division of the Citizens Protection Department of Ville de Laval undertook a very close watch on the ice jam that has developed on the Mille Îles River.
Localized to a spot in Saint-François Thursday morning, the ice mass was clearly visible, east of the Terrebonne Bridge between rue Européens and rue Claude, on Friday morning.
The forming of the ice jam has provoked the putting on alert of the Centre for Coordination of Emergency Measures, for the purpose of monitoring the situation.
Photo:Jam
(Photo: Martin Alarie)
Météo: Laval, 22 mai 2008 / 12°C
/ Faible averse de pluie
/ Vents: 9 Km/h / Humidité relative: 67 % 
Steven Guilbeault - 
