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MONTREAL – Hundreds of Quebecers have begun preparations to evacuate their homes as warm temperatures continue to increase snow melt in the Laurentian mountains, raising the water levels on the Ottawa and St. Lawrence rivers to flood levels.
Levels became so high during the weekend that Hydro-Quebec was forced to open the 14 sluice gates at the Carillon Dam at Point Fortune, increasing downstream flow and raising water levels by as much a 25 centimetres.
Over a period of one day, water flow through the dam rose to 6,060 cubic metres per second, from 5,690. This is the largest maximum flow through the dam since 1997 and the 10th-largest since 1964.
What’s more, Hydro-Quebec has warned residents downriver that it may be forced to release more water Monday, which will boost levels another 25 centimetres.
“The one bit of good news is that there is no ice on the rivers that would cause ice jams,” said Jean-Pierre Bazinet of the Quebec Department of Public Security. Bazinet said the water levels are expected to continue to rise throughout the week.
The critical time should begin today and end by Friday, said Marc Lavallee, director of the Montreal region for the public security ministry.
“As long as municipalities can supply ambulance services and fire services, people will be allowed to stay in their homes,” he said.
In the greater Montreal area only two families had decided to leave their homes even though 35 houses have already been flooded and 75 sections of roads are under water.
Two men determined to stay put are Hudson residents Jim Soter, 63, and his neighbor Pierre Savaria, 69.
Soter’s tiny cottage Sunday afternoon was a blue island surrounded by dark water gently but menacingly lapping at his concrete foundation. He had constructed an elevated wooden walkway and ramp to get to his porch.
As of Sunday afternoon, his basement was inundated and the water level was only half a metre below his floor boards. He can expect levels to continue to rise. The water has flooded the road behind his house and is slowly creeping up a hill toward the main road.
“I’m used to it,” he said. “I’ve been living here since 1988, but the cottage has been in my family since 1951. That’s why it really doesn’t faze me, although it is a pain.”
Savaria and his wife have lived here since 1976, so they are used to the occasional spring flood. But, he said, it’s been 10 years since it was as bad as now.
“I’m not nervous.” he said. “It’s water. When it goes up, it goes up. When it comes down, I clean.”
In Laval, there were 25 streets with some flooding as of Sunday.
Laval police officer Nathalie Lorrain said it is the worst flooding in several years as the Milles Iles River rose six centimetres.
She said the city has handed out 27,000 sandbags so far and there’s more if needed.
Most worrisome is the water coming from the upper parts of the Ottawa River. The 35 dams on the river above Hull are already straining.
Lake Temiskaming, which is close to the headwaters of the Ottawa River, reached 177.07 metres by Sunday morning. That’s not unusually high. But that fact that it increased 23 centimetres in one day is.
Montreal Gazette
wmarsden@thegazette.canwest.com