Province of Alberta updates river conditions, road closures as heavy rain eases

Mudslides, road washouts, and bridge impacts were impeding public access and both staff and contractors were actively clearing routes to restore safe access.

An earlier Evacuation Alert by the Town of Canmore, affecting the areas below, has since been rescinded.

Alpine Club
Bow Valley Riders Association
140, 149, and 150 Stone Creek Road
Eagle Landing
residents/visitors east of Lincoln Park up to and including Alpine Helicopters
residents on Palliser Trail (Hector, Blakiston, Peak Estates, and 100 Palliser Lane)
“Alberta’s government and local authorities are actively responding to impacted road infrastructure in Kananaskis Country due to ongoing rainfall and saturated ground conditions,” the Province said in the same statement.

“Due to multiple impacted areas and the need for a corresponding coordinated response, Kananaskis Improvement District has declared a state of Local Emergency. An integrated Emergency Coordination Centre has been established at the Town of Canmore Firehall to support effective local response.”

As of 1:30 p.m. Monday afternoon, a Flood Warning was up for the Elbow River upstream of Glenmore Reservoir.

Flood watches were also in place for the Bow Basin, including the Pipestone River, the Little Red Deer and Red Deer River near Sundre, and Freeman River in the Athabasca Basin and High Streamflow advisories were also continued Monday afternoon for the following waterways:

Peace River basin: Simonette River and the Little Smoky River
Athabasca River basin: Pembina River, Paddle River, and Sakwatamau River
North Saskatchewan River basin: North Saskatchewan River from Rocky Mountain House to the Saskatchewan River border, including Vermilion River, Sturgeon River, Redwater Creek, Waskatenau Creek, tributaries to the North Saskatchewan River near and downstream of Edmonton, Brazeau River, Baptiste River
Beaver River Basin: Beaver River and the tributaries to Cold Lake
Battle River Basin: Battle River through Ponoka
Red Deer River Basin: Red Deer River upstream of Dickson Dam including its tributaries and the Medicine River and Blindman River downstream of Dickson Dam
Bow River: Highwood River confluence to the Oldman River confluence
Oldman River Basin: Oldman River, St. Mary River, Waterton River, Belly River, Pincher Creek, Willow Creek

The significant rainfall has also led to flooding, rockslides, and mudslides, and closures on provincial highways including, but not limited to:

Highway 742 southwest of Canmore to the junction with Highway 40 – CLOSED
Highway 837 near the junction with Highway 575, northwest of Drumheller – CLOSED
Highway 40 between Mount Lorette Ponds and Highway 940, Kananaskis – CLOSED
Highway 1A between Highway 1 and Lincoln Park, Canmore – CLOSED
Highway 824 near Township Road 520, south of Ardrossan – CLOSED
Highway 15 between Highway 29 and Highway 831, Lamont – CLOSED
Highway 778 near Township Road 490, south of Thorsby – CLOSED
Highway 717 near Range Road 124, west of Hines Creek – CLOSED
Highway 642 near Highway 44, west of Morinville – CLOSED
Highway 541 & Highway 742– the segments not currently closed are listed as Travel Not Recommended.

Authorities are suggesting those wanting information on river levels to check out the Alberta Rivers website and for updated road conditions, to go to 511 Alberta.

by Dave Lueneberg

Province of Alberta updates river conditions, road closures as heavy rain eases

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