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Murky waters

34497rimbeyBlindmanRiver
A shot of the Blindman River east of Rimbey.

TREENA MIELKE/Rimbey Review

As the winter snow recedes under the somewhat reluctant spring sunshine, Jackie Anderson and her husband Jim have watched the Blindman River slowly rise over its banks, submerging neighbouring fields and even covering some fence posts.

The Andersons live about three miles south of Rimbey on the Simpson Road, and, in the past, have experienced major summer floods as well as a flood causing serious damage in 1990.

“This is a little inconvenient,” she said, “but it is mild in comparison. The worst will be getting the debris and grass hanging on the fences after the river goes down.”

Anderson recalled the one in 100-year flood in 1990 as being the worst she had ever experienced.

“There were fences, buildings and bridges all going down the river. It was quite an experience. We even had the police calling us in the night to be sure we were okay.”

Anderson said she and her husband are building a new house close to the river and have decided not to have a walk out basement due to possible flooding damage.

“We thought long and hard about it and decided it would not be a good idea,” she said.

Ponoka County councilor Keith Beebe said the Medicine River is high in the area west of Rimbey, but there have been no serious complaints of flooding as of yet. However, he said this situation could change.

“We still have quite a bit of snow. The fields out here are still white. Some of our bigger culverts have been plugged up, but we have them cleaned out. The Medicine River is high in the low lands, but it’s not going over bridges. Not yet, anyway.”

Tony Goode, Rimbey’s town CAO said flooding has not been a problem in town.

“There is, however, lots of water down at the east end of town where the recycling depot is. The area where the white goods and the metal is all under water.”