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The spring thaw brought unwelcome and unexpected flooding along the Rideau River for homeowners in Kemptville, Ont. with riverside property.
Melting snow and ice from a warm week last week was expected to cause water levels to rise in low-lying lands along the Rideau River between Kemptville and Kars, Ont., according to the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority.
Residents of Hilly Lane said the area completely flooded over on the weekend, engulfing summer cottages and homes on the private road.
Though some trucks can get through, residents were forced over the weekend to leave their cars along an adjacent road.
The conservation authority said on Monday that water levels at many locations “have receded noticeably” since the weekend, but that the decline would be slower in the Long Reach between Kars and Kemptville due to flows from upstream continuing to pass through.
Flows were expected to keep receding over the next few days, based on weather forecasts.
Last week, the conservation authority’s watershed conditions report said buildings were not expected to be affected, and that there might be shallow water on the lowest lying private roads, for example Hilly Lane in Kemptville.
But that proved to be a conservative estimate when the residents of Hilly Lane were greeted with the deluge.
Sandra Morneau said she can’t reach the front door of her home to inspect the damage.
“If the water goes in we’ll have damage to the flooring,” said Morneau, who bought the summer cottage five years ago. “But there’s nothing we can do until the water goes down.”
Morneau is upset she and other residents didn’t receive more warning.
Patrick Larson, the senior water resources technician with the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, said the spring thaw brings some flooding every year, but said this year wasn’t expected to be an issue because of lower-than-average snowfall.
“Well it surprised us quite frankly,” said Larson. “There’s more water than expected would come from that amount of snow.”
Larson said if the authority would have issued a flood warning and not just a watershed conditions report if it had known the flooding would be so extensive.
“We were looking at normal conditions and this was an abnormal result,” said Larson.
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