The entire Assiniboine section of Winnipeg's River Trail is now closed to the public.

That section is swamped by water, which forced officials late last week to shut down a number of access points to the trail.

Many sections of the river trail along the Assiniboine River are under water. (CBC)

The volume of water in the Assiniboine River has increased due to the Shellmouth Dam being opened about three weeks ago to lower the reservoir's level. That water has now reached Winnipeg and is pushing up through holes and cracks in the ice, and at the shorelines.

David Pancoe at The Forks says warming temperatures are also adding to the problem as the ice surface begins to soften.

The Forks will reassess the situation today to determine if the Assiniboine trial will be reopened at all. The Red River portion of the trail remains open.

Although this is a little early for the trail to be closed, it has never stayed open past the second week of March.

"We're gonna try and keep it open as long as we can, so we'll see what happens with this water, and we'll be working closely with the river patrol unit [of the city police] to make the call," Pancoe said.

The Shellmouth Dam helps protect Brandon, Portage la Prairie and Winnipeg from high flows on the Assiniboine River. It is located about 24 kilometres northwest of Russell, Man.