Conservation Authority continues to monitor area water levels
North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority News Release ******************** Although this week’s unseasonably high temperatures have resulted in significant melting of the snow pack, flooding is not immediately expected.
North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority News Release
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Although this week’s unseasonably high temperatures have resulted in significant melting of the snow pack, flooding is not immediately expected.
Staff at the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority (NBMCA) will continue to monitor weather and watershed conditions and provide updates if conditions change.
“For a gradual thaw, it is best to have plus temperatures during the day and sub-zero temperatures at night. We may see increasing water levels if we have warm day and evening temperatures, additional precipitation and ice breakups or jams,” said Susan Brownlee, NBMCA Regulations Officer.
Municipalities are encouraged to monitor water crossings to ensure the continual movement of water through culverts and bridges.
A close watch on local conditions and updated forecasts and warnings from Environment Canada is also recommended. Although no problems have been reported within the watershed, all residents, especially those in low lying areas, are encouraged to monitor the conditions that are developing.
Banks adjacent to rivers and creeks are very slippery at this time and when combined with cold, fast-moving water, pose a serious hazard.
Parents are encouraged to keep their children and pets away from watercourses and off frozen water bodies at this time as water levels and ice conditions can change suddenly.
This is the first Watershed Conditions Statement issued by the NBMCA since the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and Ontario's Conservation Authorities changed the terminology for flood messages and related weather conditions.
The change made this month is to ensure consistency with the more familiar wording used by weather agencies such as Environment Canada and the Weather Network.
At any time of the year, when there are noteworthy weather conditions that affect water levels or the potential for flooding, the NBMCA can issue three levels of messages:
WATERSHED CONDITIONS STATEMENT: general notices of potential flooding or other conditions that pose a safety risk. There are two kinds of statements:
• Water Safety indicates that high flows, unsafe banks, melting ice or other factors could be dangerous for users such as anglers, boaters, swimmers, children or pets. Flooding is not expected.
• Flood Outlook gives early notice of the potential for flooding based on weather forecasts calling for heavy rain, snow melt, high wind or other conditions that could lead to high runoff, cause ice jams, lakeshore flooding or erosion.
FLOOD WATCH notifies that the potential for flooding exists within specific watercourses and municipalities. Municipalities, emergency services and individual landowners in flood-prone areas should prepare.
FLOOD WARNING: Flooding is imminent or already occurring in specific watercourses or municipalities.
Municipalities and individuals should take action to deal with flood conditions. This may include road closures and evacuations.
Flooding can happen at any time. Heavy rains, snowmelt, spring breakup and ice jams, wind-related storm surges, or the failure of dams can cause flooding.
Flood forecast messages enable the NBMCA and municipalities to prepare for, track and manage local flooding. Advance warning provides Municipalities with the opportunity to put emergency plans into operation, evacuate communities if necessary, and secure property in areas that are more likely to flood.
Monitoring weather and flood conditions is a shared responsibility of Conservation Authorities, MNR, and Environment Canada.
When flooding is possible or about to occur, Conservation Authorities issue flood messages to municipal emergency management officials and the media.
The municipal officials then take action to warn local residents.
The general public is advised of these messages through the www.nbmca.on.ca website with the flood status icon and a link to information about current conditions.
NBMCA also issues these messages to local media for dissemination to the general public.
