Richard Froese
South Peace News
About 30 roads in the M.D. of Smoky River were hit hard by flooding last month.
“We are still dealing with the aftermath and everyone needs to drive with caution,” says Kevin Cymbaluk, director of operations for Smoky River.
Spring runoff on April 22 caused severe damage to the road network, the M.D. stated on its website on April 24.
As a result, flooding caused 29 temporary road closures and caused some damage to numerous other roads within the network.
“Most roads will be restored to traffic within two weeks,” Cymbaluk writes in an e-mail April 29.
Other work, such as washouts, approaches and ditch repairs will likely take considerably longer, he says.
The most affected regions were in the area around Guy, the area south of Donnelly and the Whitemud area.
The current storm water drainage system was unable to handle this year’s runoff due to the unseasonably heavy snowfall in late March and early April, Cymbaluk says.
Rising temperatures above zero throughout several evenings added to the rush and damage.
Public works employees and the protective services department have been working diligently to ensure the safety of residents.
Hazardous areas of roads have been flagged or barricaded to protect motorists and an “Aqua Dam,” a “Tiger Dam” flood control system and gravel berms have been used to protect residences from rising floodwater.
Things could have been worse.
“It definitely wasn’t as bad as it was in 2018.”
No evacuations were necessary in the M.D. and there was minimal damage to private property compared to 2018.
Flooding is a recurrent issue in the Smoky River region, the most recent flooding occurring only two years ago on April 26-29, 2018.
Due to development in the region, there are fewer forested and wetland areas to help retain the snow, amplifying the effects of a rapid melt, Cymbaluk says.
The M.D. continues to improve its storm water drainage capacity to prevent severe flooding in the future.
Smoky River staff reminds everyone to be aware of the hazards of unnecessary travel at this time and thank the community for their co-operation.
Anyone who sees any unsafe conditions at this time which are not yet flagged, please phone the M.D. office at [780] 837-2221.
Water as far as the eye can see on Range Road 213 north of Township Road 772 south of Falher. 
A common sight in the region in late April: a flooded road, this one at Township Road 744 east of Range Road 213, south of Falher. 
Lake Falher? A lake was created by the spring runoff April 22 in a field on the west side of Range Road 213 north of Highway 49. 
A damaged culvert and high water at the location of Range Road 221 and Township Road 782. 
Barricades are set up on several roads in the M.D. of Smoky where flooding damages the structure of the roads. This one was located on Township Road 782 at the eastern boundary of the Village of Girouxville. The road is closed between Girouxville and Range Road 220. 
Flooding occurred on Township Road 722 west of Range Road 212 – the Peavine Drainage Canal south of Falher.
