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The Assiniboine Glacier

Glaciers appear to be forming in the Assiniboine Valley east of Virden. Two examples of this can be observed from the paved road, PR259. The ice in the creek bed, on the west side of the valley started to grow in January, after a warm spell.

Glaciers appear to be forming in the Assiniboine Valley east of Virden.

Two examples of this can be observed from the paved road, PR259. The ice in the creek bed, on the west side of the valley started to grow in January, after a warm spell. As water seeped out, of the gravel slope in midwinter, it froze at the surface.

Now the buildup of ice has produced several steps or levels and has spread down over the creek bed, to cover the ravine bottom.

The ice appears to be several feet thick. Flooding since 2011 had already carved away the banks of the little creek that flows along the north side of PR259, into the Assiniboine River. West Souris River Conservation District manager Dean Brooker drives by the area most days and has noticed the ice formation

He says, “I have never seen that amount of ice buildup before.”

Also, on the east side of the valley, water has begun to flow out of the side of the valley hill, along the ditch. This too has frozen and is building a small glacier that is encroaching on the highway.
The valley is within the Upper Assiniboine River Conservation District. Manager for UARCD, Ryan Canart, stated,

“What you are seeing is the ground water level at an all-time high.”

Father north in the conservation district he reports that a well supplying the town of Shoal Lake is flowing like an artesian well. “It’s the first time in 30 years that we have had a positive flow there,”
he says.

In other parts of the province, near Brandon, people are reporting that wells, where water is usually 40 feet below the surface, are now full to within eight feet of the surface.

According to a Newfoundland website, icebergfinder.com, glaciers are formed as a result of an accumulation of snow over thousands of years.

Of course, that is not the case here, where water is flowing underground and finding its way to the surface. These are not real glaciers, but an interesting testament to how much water Manitoba has received in the last five-year wet cycle.

Much of it is hidden under the surface.

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