FORT KENT, Maine — An ice jam that gave way Tuesday night raised water levels in the St. John River, but flood risks in Aroostook County remain relatively low, according to officials.
That could change if the area sees significant rainfall that frees up more ice flow, particularly in areas along the St. John Valley in the northern part of the county.
A National Weather Service forecast for Fort Kent indicates that less than a half-inch of rain is expected over the next couple of days
In Fort Kent, an ice jam in the St. John River released Tuesday night and moved quickly, bringing the water level up to 14 feet, which is considered an action stage. The Fort Kent Public Works department, according to a social media post made by the department, moved quickly by closing the river gate and activating the pump station.
“Public Works crews will continue to monitor river levels around the clock and operate pumps as needed until the river drops below our benchmark and shows a consistent decline,” the public works department’s post read.
Aroostook County EMA Deputy Director Derrick Ouellette said the organization is primarily monitoring the St. John River. He said the conditions should be stable as long as the region doesn’t see any significant rain.
“There has been a steady increase in the amount of water that’s flowing through the river, but nothing I’m too concerned about at this moment,” Ouellette said.
He said on Wednesday that the outlook calls for warmer weather during the day and cooler temperatures at night, which could keep the ice melt down to moderate levels.
Ouellette said Fort Kent’s public works department acted quickly and prevented a potential future flood event.
“They were getting closer to the action stage,” he said. “They were doing the right thing and being proactive.”
He said that this year may not be as severe in terms of flooding, adding that the weather can always change.
“We live in northern Maine,” Ouellette said. “I usually say the weather is bipolar up here. One day it looks like it’s going to be nice, and the next day, all of a sudden, things change.”
But as it stands, and as long as the area doesn’t see significant rainfall, Ouellette said there are no roads or areas in Aroostook County that are facing a flood threat, or closure due to flooding. He said this is also dependent on the ice itself, which is something he and the team at EMA monitor regularly.
“This morning it might be fine, and then in the afternoon the ice might jam up and the water level rises,” he said. “So we’ve just got to keep our eyes on it.”
If there is a flooding event, or a roadway appears to be flooded, he emphasized the importance of turning around.
“You don’t know what the road condition is under that moving water,” he said. “It is very dangerous.”
