State of emergency in northern Ontario lakeside community due to rising water levels
Mitch and Donna Bujold moved to their Nellie Lake lot in 2018 for the lakefront view and access to the water, but in recent weeks, it seems the lake has been keen on accessing their property too.
Water levels began encroaching on their lakeside lawn in April, with the shoreline approaching their gazebo.
The Bujolds' gazebo flooded by Nellie Lake in Iroquios Falls as water levels continue to rise. May 29/23 (Sergio Arangio/CTV Northern Ontario)
"It just kept on creeping up, every single day, the water is getting higher," Mitch said.
"Plus the melting, it didn’t help, so the water kept on rising and rising."
Resisting the invading lake, the Bujolds piled on an estimated 300 sandbags provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. It resembles a makeshift trench holding the water at bay.
The rising water levels have also left some wildlife displaced, seeking refuge at the Bujold’s property.
"The beavers are coming across here, they’re coming up onto the driveway, they’re taking the trees," Donna said.
"We have the ducks that nest on the sandbags, basically."
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Living in the unincorporated township of Aurora, the Bujolds said their basement sump pump is fighting the lake water off for now, but worry how long that will last.
The mayor of Iroquois Falls, Tory Delaurier, said septic beds and tanks in unincorporated properties are overflowing, contaminating the lake and potentially making his residents’ tap water on the opposite side of the lake unsafe.
A boil water advisory is in place and the area is under a state of emergency.
"If we did get another rainfall or high winds, it would compromise even more properties and more septic beds," Delaurier said.
"There’s even outhouses out there that are being compromised."
The mayor said agencies are investigating the cause of the flooding and preparing for an emergency meeting on Wednesday, to come up with an action plan.
Provincial agencies and police are using a local campground to access the lake.
"What we’ve had to do, so far, is just shut down our boat launch, so that no motorized boats can go on the water," said Tania Rondeau, owner of Cameron’s Beach Campground.
"We’re going to try to do what we can on our end to help everybody."
Other residents shared stories of flooded basements, where belongings and family memories were lost, along with land lost to the lake.
As the Bujolds cautiously watch their sandbag barricade, they hope the onslaught of water won’t last much longer.
"If it comes to October, November, when this thing freezes, we’re going to be in big trouble," Mitch said.
Meantime, Delaurier advises people to get their water tested by the Porcupine Health Unit by picking up a sampling kit and returning a tap water sample for testing.
He also urges people not to use the lake, for fear of provoking it further.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.