HAY RIVER - A committee examining ways to lessen the impact of spring breakup flooding in Hay River will soon be ready to make recommendations.

Spring breakup flooding in 2008 covered Fisherman's Wharf in Hay River with large chunks of ice. - NNSL file photo

"I think in the next month or so we'll be coming forth with some motions that council can debate," said Coun. Ken Latour, chair of the Flood Mitigation Committee.

On June 6, Latour updated council on the committee's varied list of ideas and ongoing discussions.

One of the main ideas is to raise the elevation of 100th Street, an area of Vale Island prone to flooding from the Hay River's East Channel.

"We feel that, if we were able to raise that road, we could protect the residents who live in that area from the minor floods," Latour said. "We get a lot of floods that are just like one foot of water and, because that road is so low, that water is coming all the way to 100th Street or 101st Street."

The committee also believes the West Channel berm is effective, but requires repairs and a possible extension.

Latour noted some people have also asked the committee why a berm isn't built all the way around Vale Island.

"There are obviously a lot of issues involved with that," he said, noting the cost would be prohibitive, sections of land next to the waterways are in use and the Hay River Reserve would be affected on the other side of the East Channel.

Another idea often suggested by the public is a return to the practice from years past of dredging the mouth of the Hay River.

Latour said dredging can't be undertaken by the town on its own, but it should lobby for support from higher levels of government.

The committee also talked to people and reviewed studies that mentioned a past practice of weakening river ice by blasting.

"It's inconclusive as far as we can tell as to how effective it really was," Latour said, noting it would also be difficult to obtain permits to use dynamite in a river. "We don't think that's a very viable option at this point."

The committee will further investigate the idea of obtaining machinery to cut and weaken the river ice. One tractor-like device with a large blade costs about $300,000.

Another idea is to possibly create a third drainage route for Vale Island by opening Oxbow Creek and turning it into a river channel.

"This would definitely change things, but it's an idea just to throw out there and see what people think," Latour said. "We feel that in the past there were more options for the water to get out into the lake. Since then, a lot of passageways have been filled in and perhaps that's part of the problem."

Another common suggestion is to clear snow off river ice so it would melt sooner.

"We just think clearing the snow off most of the river would be an incredibly expensive venture," Latour said.

The committee, which has been meeting since late 2009, has reviewed previous studies and talked to local people with years of knowledge about the spring breakups. In addition, it held a public meeting in March of last year.

Latour said consultations will continue over the summer, especially in the West Channel area and with Faye Hicks, a University of Alberta engineering professor who has studied the Hay River breakup.

The six-member Flood Mitigation Committee consists of two town councillors and other community residents.

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