FREDERICTON (GNB) – After almost six weeks in operation, the River Watch Program for the 2024 freshet season ends today.
Water levels in all areas along the Saint John River basin continue to decrease and are returning to normal levels.
“There was little impact from this year’s freshet,” said Public Safety Minister Kris Austin. “Our good luck notwithstanding, the River Watch team was hard at work, and I would like to thank all our partners for their efforts.”
The program started on March 12 and provided information on the status of rivers and the potential for ice jams and other flood issues during the ice-out and spring freshet season. This information enabled officials and the public to take the necessary steps to keep themselves and their properties safe.
The program is a joint effort involving the Department of Environment and Local Government, NB Power and the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization (NBEMO) of the Department of Justice and Public Safety. Other partners include Environment and Climate Change Canada, watershed groups, and federal, provincial and state agencies involved in monitoring and forecasting the water flows in the province’s rivers and streams.
“I am proud of our Hydrology Centre team who worked diligently with key partners over the course of several weeks to carry out flood forecasting for New Brunswickers,” said Austin. “Their efforts helped inform residents so they could plan accordingly for potential flooding.”
Over the past weeks, the River Watch 2024 team published public advisories, conducted interviews with provincial media, and kept people informed through Facebook and X.
“River Watch may have ended, but the need to be prepared remains,” said NBEMO director Kyle Leavitt. “Every household should have an emergency plan and supplies to sustain themselves and their family for a minimum of 72 hours.”
