Flooding can occur at any time, especially next to the Athabasca, Clearwater and Christina rivers.
Before a flood |
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During a flood |
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After a flood |
Returning to your property
Completing a damage assessment
Cleaning your property
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River breakup camera
Watch the ice from a safe distance through the river breakup camera. The camera's location is at the Water Treatment Plant (south) of the bridge, facing downstream (north).

You can also get detailed river monitoring information at rivers.alberta.ca.
How river breakup happens
- During the spring months when the flooding risk is greater, our Emergency Management branch works with Alberta Environment to mitigate the flood risk.
- There are many checkpoints on the Clearwater River to provide warning of an ice break.
- The type of breakup (thermal or dynamic) is dependent on weather and river conditions.

Thermal processes melt the ice cover and weaken it (picture an ice cube disappearing in a glass of water as it melts). Contributing factors include sunshine or wind, increased water or air temperature.

Dynamic processes push the ice cover out of its original place and into chunks. These chunks are then pushed downstream. Precipitation, water levels, or water movement that causes the ice cover to break before it has weakened.
Dynamic breakup is more likely to cause an ice jam and create a higher flood risk.