Eric Rayner and Rob Beaulieu of the North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority put stop logs into the dam on Parks Creek off Lakeshore Drive in West Ferris.Submitted photo.
The potential for flooding exists along the Lake Nipissing shoreline and flood prone areas in North Bay and Callander, prompting the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority to issue a Flood Watch for the shoreline.
Municipalities, emergency services and individual landowners in flood-prone areas should prepare.
“The level of Lake Nipissing is continuing to rise and gradually increase over the long weekend even though no significant precipitation is forecast over the next five days.
The water level is currently 10cm above the upper summer operating range,” said Susan Brownlee, NBMCA’s Regulations Officer.
In addition to Lake Nipissing’s rising water level, wind is also concern. Wind direction and speed are a determining factor for potential damages along the shoreline.
The NBMCA is also monitoring the lake level in anticipation of operating the Parks Creek Backflood Control Structure near the mouth of the creek at Lakeshore Dr. Logs have been put in the outer bays of the structure in anticipation of rising lake levels. This structure prevents high water from Lake Nipissing from flowing into Parks Creek, therefore preventing the backflow of water from flooding homes in the West Ferris area.
Pumps will be put into operation on the Parks Creek Backflood Control Structure if the elevation of Lake Nipissing reaches 196.22m above sea level. The lake is currently at 196.05m, 10cm above the summer operating range.
This warning will be in effect until Tuesday.
With the long weekend upon us, area residents and visitors are encouraged to monitor the conditions and take proper precautions along the Lake Nipissing shoreline.
