Conservation Sudbury issued flood watches Tuesday afternoon for the following waterways around the city:
- Lower Junction Creek – downstream of Kelly Lake
- Onaping River – Dowling area
- Vermillion River – Dowling, Chelmsford, and parts of Walden)
A flood watch means that flooding is possible in specific watercourses or municipalities and that the municipalities, emergency services, and individual landowners in flood-prone areas should prepare.
Watershed conditions water safety statement continues for all other waterways within the City of Greater Sudbury. This indicates that high water flows, unsafe banks along the water, melting ice or other factors could be dangerous, but flooding is not expected.
These statements are in effect until 10 am Tuesday, April 30.
The current Environment Canada forecast shows warm temperatures nearing 13 degrees Celsius with light precipitation for the rest of the week.
Conservation Sudbury says a significant amount of the snowpack within the City of Greater Sudbury has melted over the past week, however the upper reaches of the Vermilion River and the Onaping river watersheds still have snowpack with significant water content. Current water levels and flows on all watercourses in these watersheds are already elevated and will remain high for some time to come.
According to the conservation authority, the neighbourhoods adjacent to Mud, Simon and McCharles Lakes are in the vicinity of the point where Junction Creek flows into the Vermilion River. Similarly, the Dowling area is where the Onaping and Vermilion Rivers join. Flows are high in all of these watercourses and a backwater effect often occurs where they meet. High water levels are already being experienced on shoreline properties.
The developing conditions must be closely monitored by all residents especially those living in known low-lying, hazard areas where overland flooding could become an issue. Residents in the City of Greater Sudbury who may experience problems due to overland runoff or flooding should call 3-1-1.
