Despite a slight drop in water levels near Deer Lake on Tuesday night, the Newfoundland and Labrador town's mayor says the trend turned around again during the overnight hours.
Water levels had started rising in Deer Lake and the Humber River early Tuesday after ice began jamming at the point where the upper Humber flows into the the lake.
From relief to worry
Mayor Dean Ball and other town officials had breathed a sigh of relief Tuesday evening, when monitoring stations showed the water was receding in Deer Lake and the Humber River — finally providing some good news to residents in neighbourhoods near the water.
But that relief was short-lived, as four readings overnight showed the water was again rising.
"Ice conditions there are not getting any better," Ball told the Corner Brook Morning Show.
"It's abnormal what we're seeing right now but we're hoping for the best, that those levels are going to start to decrease."
One preliminary reading at daybreak did show a slight dip, but Ball said it will take several more readings before officials can get a clearer picture.
JUST NOW: The ice flowing down the Humber River at Deer Lake. People were snowmobiling here just late last week. @cbcnl @CBCNews #nlwx #nlweather #deerlake pic.twitter.com/6dtnfd36qA
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@oneillyatescbc
Ball said the town was anticipating that the water would keep receding, but it's clear that isn't the case, based on both overnight measurements and verbal reports from residents who are seeing the water creep farther onto their properties.
The ice on Wednesday was moving down the river at a much slower speed than Tuesday evening, which means the ice is likely again blocking drainage into the lower Humber River.
'Nobody is in panic mode'
Water has not yet reached homes in the Riverside Drive area, Ball said, but the town is still ready to spring into action if there's a need to evacuate.
"We have all of that information, so in a second's notice now, we have all the ammunition to move in seconds, not hours now," he said.
"Nobody is in panic mode and I wouldn't want anybody to be in panic mode. We have to maintain eyes and ears on this so we don't get blindsided."
The deck from a house or cabin is seen floating in the Humber River near Shellbird Island. (Submitted by Brandon Sparkes)
In addition to flooding concerns, four homes on Pinetree Drive are at risk of landslide damage. Ball said Newfoundland Power crews also moved a power line so that residents wouldn't lose power from water surrounding the line.
Town officials will be assessing the water levels later Wednesday morning, Ball said, which will give them a better idea of what they'll be contending with.
Breaking up the ice jam
Ball said the town is also exploring ways to break up the ice jam and get water flowing again into the lower Humber.
"Dynamite is not an option for us. An excavator on a barge is what we need, but we need the barge to be able to move on its own, so we need a boat big enough to tow a barge around."
Deer Lake Mayor Dean Ball says town officials will be busy on Wednesday monitoring water levels in the area. (CBC)
Ball said Deer Lake is used to rising water levels during spring, but with the ground frozen and unable to absorb the water as it comes up on the land, this is an entirely new and worrisome situation.
"We are used to high water — what's different this year is we are dealing with it in January, and not April," he said.
"This is not the norm. We should have seen a crest yesterday, but hopefully this morning we are going to come up with some good news."
