In order to minimize the threat of flooding and safely pass the flood period, preventive works are carried out almost throughout the year. In 2023, the Federal Agency for Water Resources plans to spend 1.2 billion rubles on them. In regions where the risk of congestion is especially high, Rosvodresursy sent more than 85 million rubles this year. We are talking about the Vologda and Arkhangelsk regions, the Perm Territory, Yakutia, the Yamalo-Nenets and Nenets Autonomous Oblasts.
According to Lyudmila Murashko, head of the Yakut Department of Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, the official long-term forecast for the time of ice breakup and the maximum water level in the republic’s rivers will be given on April 14. But already today it is clear that the flood situation this year will be the most difficult: due to abnormal frosts, the beds of small rivers froze, and large reservoirs were covered with a thick layer of ice, the maximum thickness of which is about 140 cm, that is, half a meter more than last year. The All-Russian Research Institute for Civil Defense and Emergencies of the Russian Emergencies Ministry believes that this can lead to heavy traffic jams, so experts predict a high probability of flooding of settlements in Yakutia. In the region, it was decided to set up some 250 temporary accommodation points for people and more than 90 places for cattle herding.
The flood situation in Yakutia will turn out to be the most difficult: due to abnormal frosts, small river channels froze, and large reservoirs were covered with thick ice.
To reduce the likelihood of congestion, the republic will manually reduce the ice thickness on the rivers. Now, according to the information of the Yakut Hydrometeorological Service, it reaches 140 cm in the Lena, 110 cm in the Aldan, Amga and Vilyui, and 155 cm in the rivers of the north-east of the region.” Hundreds of hectares on its surface frozen will be blackened with coal and sand, which will help the ice to melt more actively.In some places it will be sawn.
– To ensure the safe passage of the spring flood, the preparation of aviation equipment and explosives began. Flight training will be organized in March-April, – said Dmitry Lepchikov, head of the State Committee to Ensure the Safety of Life of the Population of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).
Preparations for the flood began in the Vologda region. In the region, storm inlets, drainage ditches are cleaned, wells and pipes are heated, and deteriorated sections of storm sewers are relocated. According to the preliminary forecast, the water level in the Vologda River is expected to be within the range of long-term values. But the cutting and blackening of the ice will begin in March. Such an approach, judging by the experience of recent years, will simplify the passage of floods.
– Electric generators, vehicles, swimming facilities, excavators, pumps, heat guns have been prepared. Reserves of gravel-sand mixture, pipelines, valves, reagents, disinfectants have been created for cleaning and disinfecting drinking water, – said Vologda Deputy Mayor Alexei Nikitin.
There are no traffic jams in Vologda yet, but snow accumulation will last until mid-March, so a more accurate forecast for spring floods will come later.
In the Arkhangelsk region, special attention is paid to ice cutting and blasting in the Northern Dvina. In settlements where there is a risk of flooding, they create the necessary reserves of food, medicine and fuel. In general, in the Arkhangelsk and Vologda regions, traditional ice-cutting work will be carried out on river sections with a length of 141.5 km, and icebreaking work will be carried out on the Arkhangelsk-Kholmogory section. . Also this season, funds will be allocated from the federal budget for icebreaking operations in the congestion-prone sections of the Northern Dvina.
