Flood Details - 2017-04-09 - 2017-05-15

River Watch began on March 13th. The Saint John River was expected to peak early in April and again in late April or early May with water from the upper river basin. Rain and warm temperatures the week of April 9th resulted in a high risk of localized flooding, ice cover movement, and ice jams. Government officials were monitoring minor ice jams on the Tobique River near Arthurette, on the Saint John River near Hartland, and in the area between Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska and Saint-Léonard, and on the Southwest Miramichi near Doaktown. Water levels on the Saint John River in the Fredericton and Jemseg areas peaked above flood stage on April 14th. Several roads in the Lakeville Corner and Jemseg areas were closed due to the high water. Many sections of downtown Fredericton were underwater, including the path next to Sainte Anne’s Point Drive, the high-water marker installation by the pedway and the sports field at Morell Park. Water levels were expected to remain high without any major increases. By April 17th, the only area where the water remained above flood stage was in Jemseg. Water levels were expected to decrease gradually in the following days. There were no longer any ice jam threats in the upper parts of the Saint John River basin. More precipitation during the week of April 23rd brought a second wave of flood warnings to many parts of the Saint John River. Water levels in Fredericton, Maugerville, and Sheffield-Lakeville Corner were expected to approach flood stage again; waters in the Jemseg area remained above flood stage. On April 28th, one road was closed at Medford, between Tobique First Nation and Drummond, due to bank erosion caused by high water levels. On the 30th, Route 690 in Lakeville-Corner was closed for the second time along with Ferry Road in Jemseg. Highway 105 between Maugerville and Jemseg was partially covered by water in several locations. A heavy rain event over the weekend of May 5th, 6th and 7th brought 80 millimeters of rain to some parts of the province. There was minor flooding in several areas, but no major impacts were reported. Water levels remained above the flood stage for most communities south of Fredericton. The water level in the capital city sat at 6.91 meters, while in Jemseg is was at 4.86 meters. The rain event resulted in the highest water levels along the Saint John River in the spring of 2017. Upwards of 15 roads in the Fredericton District were closed. Midday May 7th the road to Darlings Island in the Saint John area was closed due to water over the road. The road is the only connector between the mainland and the 300 homes on the island. It was reopened on May 12th. Water levels began to decrease for the final time on May 10th. On the 11th, levels dropped below flood stage in Fredericton and Maugerville, on May 14th in the Grand Lake and Quispamsis-Saint John areas, and on the 15th in the Jemseg and Sheffield-Lakeville Corner areas. Many of the roads impacted by water had been reopened by this time.

Environment Canada rainfall totals for May 5th, 6th and 7th. Fredericton: 73.8 mm Gagetown: 72.8 mm Saint John: 71.3 mm Woodstock: 40.2 mm Edmundston: 33.8 mm High water level (flood stage): Fredericton: 6.95 m (6.5 m) Maugerville: 6.17 m (6.0 m) Jemseg: 5.39 m (4.3 m) Grand Lake: 5.4 m (5.0 m) Sheffield-Lakeville Corner: 5.46 m (4.8 m) Oak Point: 4.77 m (4.7 m) Quispamsis-Saint John: 4.66 m (4.2 m)

An accumulation of ice in the Saint-Léonard area on April 12th lead to one flooded basement. An ice jam in Middle River near Bathurst on April 15th left some residents stranded in their homes after 30 centimeters of water rushed onto the road. One home was evacuated. Water levels began to decrease on the 16th, and no damages were reported. On May 3rd, residents of Saint-Jacques in the Edmundston area were advised to move valuable belongings from their basements as water levels on the Madawaska River had increased. Some basement flooding was reported but no major damages occurred. Flooding in the Doaktown area over the weekend of May 6th and 7th resulted in one home with water in the basement. In Fredericton, some residents on McMinniman Court reported basement flooding.