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Some Ottawa residents are still feeling the effects of this year’s snowfall. As spring arrives and the weather warms up, a snow pack that’s reached record levels is melting and overflowing some regional lakes and rivers.
The impact is already being felt in some city neighborhoods as roads are being closed and residents in low-lying areas are preparing sandbags to protect their homes.
The Rideau River surpassed its banks Friday washing out parts of Old Ottawa South, one of the city’s historic neighborhoods.
Conservation officials are warning residents that the flooding may get worse in the coming days. The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, the municipal authority governing the Mississippi watershed within Ontario, says flooding is imminent near Dalhousie Lake. Officials say water on the lake has been rising steadily and is expected to rise another 15-20 centimetres over the next week.
Officials note that the major tributaries of the Mississippi—Clyde and Fall Rivers—are not expected to peak for at least five days. The Mississippi Lake is also expected to rise 50-60 centimetres over the next seven to 10 days before it reaches its peak.
There is good news, however. Flows on another waterway—the Carp River—have stabilized and are expected to recede over the next few days. Earlier this month, conservation officials had feared it would flow over its banks and had offered sandbags to residents living in low-lying areas.
Water levels across the region are expected to continue to rise throughout the weekend and forecasters predict localized flooding will get worse before it gets better. The snow pack this year has been at record levels and conservation officers are continuing to monitor the river flow on a daily basis.
CTV.ca