The annual ice removal off Parks Creek near Lakeshore Drive in North Bay is expected to start Thursday.
North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority is urging the public and snowmobilers to stay off the creek and away from the mouth of the creek on Lake Nipissing.
“There is a lot of snow and ice on the creek this year and we need to create some storage space for runoff when the melt eventually starts,” says Manager of Lands & Stewardship with the NBMCA, Troy Storms. “The ice removal will also continue a short ways into Lake Nipissing, and upstream beyond Lakeshore Drive.”
Each year, the conservation authority reviews the capacity of Parks Creek to absorb the spring melt and manages the flood control structure on the creek at Eva Wardlaw Conservation Area to ensure people and property along the creek are safe from potential flooding.
“Removal of ice between the flood control structure and Lake Nipissing will help minimize the risk of any property flooding or ice damage to the control structure,” says Storms.
The conservation authority says Lakeshore Drive residents in the area should experience minimal disruption from the ice removal project. It is is not anticipating any disturbance to the creek bed and the ice will be piled on the banks of Parks Creek to slowly melt. The public is urged to stay away from the ice piles while they are being removed.
