French River area preparing for worsening flooding with more rain expected

Many regions of northeastern Ontario have growing concerns about high water levels.

The northeastern portion of the Ontario Flood Map for April 27, 2024. (Supplied/Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry)

The Municipality of French River has been under a flood watch since Thursday evening and many residents told CTV News that they fear the already high water levels combined with the rain forecasted in the coming days may cause more widespread flooding.

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CTV News visited the Barker’s Bay community near Alban, Ont. on Friday to observe the rising water levels.

High water levels in the French River community of Barker’s Bay on April 26, 2024. (Ian Campbell/CTV News Northern Ontario)

It was almost impossible to distinguish the river from the property line when viewing the community’s shoreline on April 26.

It was almost impossible to distinguish the river from the property line when viewing Barker’s Bay’s shoreline on April 26, 2024. (Ian Campbell/CTV News Northern Ontario)

Municipal officials said that the current water levels have not been seen since the flood in 2019.

“We’re re-living it but we’re much better organized – our fire department is ready to go,” said French River Mayor Gisele Pageau.

“We do have three roads underwater right now and the water levels are pretty high.”

Officials said part of the issue they are facing is the high levels in Lake Nipissing as provincial officials let four to eight inches of water through the dam there and it is now making its way downstream.

The community had already started sandbagging operations before CTV News cameras arrived and said volunteer firefighters would be continuing those efforts on Saturday.

A large quantity of sandbags prepared to protect shorelines in French River. April 26, 2024. (Ian Campbell/CTV News Northern Ontario)

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Municipal officials held an emergency meeting early Friday morning to plan their next steps.

“The biggest challenge will be the weather system that is coming and so we want to be proactive in deploying it but we don’t want to be reactive as well,” French River Fire Chief Roch Bigras.

“We are being proactive in with our public works department, we have some skiffs of sandbags ready and we are gearing up for the worst-case scenario.”

Several homeowners were already having to park their vehicles near the highway because some roadways have been made impassable for smaller cars because of knee-high flooding.

CTV News Northern Ontario videojournalist Ian Campbell standing in knee deep water in the French River community of Barker’s Bay on April 26, 2024. (CTV News Northern Ontario)

Some homeowners living in the region are already leaving amid the flooding.

“I’ve done all the protect and mitigation I can to prevent water damage and I’m going to leave while it’s convenient to do so,” one homeowner told CTV News.

Municipal officials said the priority is protecting people’s homes, their livelihoods and most important – the people themselves.

“Make sure none of the homes get destroyed like they did in 2019, that’s the most important thing,” said Pageau.

“Yes there is damage to boat houses, yes there’s damage to docks – but, docks and boathouses can be repaired far easier than when your home is flooded with three to four feet of water.”