Spring run-off is causing flooding and flood warnings in areas of northern Alberta, forcing some communities to build barricades to protect homes from the water.

The Municipal District of Smoky River started piling up sandbags last week as canals and creeks began spilling onto roads and threatening properties.

Officials say flooding hit its peak Friday night, with the community taking steps to avoid damages.

“We did take quite a bit of flooding over the weekend. We did have water coming over a lot of roads within the M.D.,” said Derian Rosario, with the district.

“We did have to take some pretty proactive steps in a couple of properties by bringing in multiple loads of gravel and materials to build up some pretty serious berms to hold back water to protect properties.”

Flooding affected 400 different roadways but no property was damaged. Rosario said about a day and a half was spent with heavy equipment defending two specific properties.

The district also had more than 3,000 sandbags stockpiled for its residents in the event of such a flooding event.

“We’ve had history of overland flooding due to snow melt and so on so we take proactive steps,” Rosario said.

The district has filed an application to the province for disaster relief funding.

“Hoping to help us with some of the expenses incurred in the flooding and recovery effort,” Rosario said.

Meanwhile, localized flooding has been reported in the Municipal District of Big Lakes, where drivers may encounter road closures due to flooding.

Parts of central Alberta northwest of Edmonton including Barrhead are also under a flood watch.

"A flood watch has been issued for Little Paddle River, the Paddle River and their tributaries," the alert on Alberta Emergency Alert's website reads.

"Water levels in these areas will approach and may exceed top bank levels in response to the increased snowmelt as water levels in these rivers are currently high."

Water levels in those areas are expected to approach and exceed bank levels due to increased snowmelt.

Residents in the M.D. of Big Lakes and Smoky River were being advised to use caution when traveling and be aware of areas known to flood easily.

For updated flood warning information, go to Alberta Emergency Alert online.