WEST CARLETON — The combination of warm weather and an expected 40 millimetres of rain today (April 14) has the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) expecting the Carp River flow to “increase significantly” this week.

“Flows on the Clyde, Fall, Indian and Carp rivers have increased steadily over the weekend and are expected to increase significantly over the next four days,” the MVCA released in a statement today.

The MVCA also issued an update to the Flood Watch issued for Dalhousie Lake on April 12. 

“Significant rainfall is also forecasted for later in the week,” the MVCA said. “That has the potential to cause significant flooding in some areas of the watershed depending on where and how rainfall there is. MVCA will continue to monitor conditions and provide updates as required.”

The Flood Watch is in effect until April 16 and will be updated at that time unless the forecast or conditions change.

Parents are encouraged to remind their children about hypothermia and the dangers of playing on or near ice covered surfaces or fast flowing water in ditches and smaller creeks. They are also reminded to keep their pets away from the same areas. Residents are strongly urged to stay off all ice covered waterways.

Residents in flood prone or low lying areas, historically susceptible to flooding, should take the necessary precautions to protect their property, such as:

Ensuring sump pump is clear, in good working condition and has a backwater valve on it

Portable backup generator and/or battery pump

Ensuring downspouts are clear and the outlet is at least 3 m from the dwelling

Removing or securing items that might float away as flows increase

Removing valuable items from basements or lower floors that could be subject to flooding

Keep emergency phone numbers handy

Familiarize yourself with your municipality’s emergency preparedness plan

“Significant rainfall is forecasted over the next seven day period and that has the potential to cause some flooding across the watershed,” the MVCCA said. “The MVCA will continue to monitor conditions and provide updates as required.”

Daily water levels and flows are available on the MVCA website at www.mvc.on.ca

Updates to the watershed conditions will be issued as required. The flood watch is in effect until April 15 and will be updated at that time unless the forecast or conditions change.

The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority flood forecasting and warning program staff monitors conditions, snowpack water, operates dams to help mitigate flooding, estimates expected river flows and water levels and issues flood advisories or warnings as required. MVCA provides early warning and continuous monitoring to municipal and provincial emergency response personnel through a flood event.