Libby officials rally to stop ice jams
AN EXCAVATOR digs away ice from Flower Creek at the confluence with the Kootenai River in Libby on Tuesday. (Bethany Rolfson/TWN)
Excavators are working along Flower Creek in Libby to dig away ice formations that have at times this week stopped the channel from flowing into the Kootenai River.
“We’re trying to be proactive so we can avoid fighting a flood event,” Libby Mayor Brent Teske said while standing on one of the bridges on City Service Road.
According to Teske, excavators from Noble Inc. and Thompson Contracting in Libby are working alongside city excavators.
Five excavators are stationed along the creek, catching and removing ice.
An area of concern is the bridge over Balsam Avenue. Sitting just a few feet above the water at all times, there isn’t much room for the ice to pass underneath.
Officials are also keeping an eye on the bridges on the northwest part of town, under Second Street and City Service Road.
Following a bout of rain on Wednesday night into Thursday, the creek was rising, but Emergency Management Deputy Lisa Oedewaldt said the precipitation didn’t affect the flood conditions.
Oedewaldt said sandbags are being made available to residents.
County and city officials ask that the public stay away from the work areas.