WEST CARLETON — With waters on the rise from yesterday’s (April 14) rains, the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) says that trend will continue this week.

“Flows on the Carp, Clyde, Fall and Indian rivers have increased dramatically over the last 24 hours and are expected to continue to increase over the next four days,” the MVCA released in a statement today. “Levels on Mississippi Lake are expected to increase 30 to 50 centimetres over today’s levels by mid-week bringing levels close to or slightly above those experienced in 2017.”

The MVCA is upgrading the Flood Watch for Dalhousie Lake (in the southern reaches of Lanark County) to a Flood Warning for the lake.

“Rainfall amounts in excess of 50 mm and warmer temperatures over the weekend have caused flows in to Dalhousie Lake to increase faster than anticipated,” the MVCA said. “Current estimates put levels on the lake rising another 20 to 30 cm above today’s current level of 157.26; slightly above those experienced last year but below those reached in 2017.”

A Flood Watch is now in effect for the Clyde River and Mississippi Lake (which feeds the Mississippi River).

“Levels on Mississippi Lake are expected to increase 30 to 50 cm over today’s levels by mid-week bringing levels close to or slightly above those experienced in 2017,” the MVCA said.

Substantial rainfall is also forecasted for later in the week.

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

This Flood Warning is in effect until April 17 and will be updated at that time unless the forecast or conditions change.

Smaller creeks, tributaries and ditches are flowing over in numerous areas of the watershed. 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

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.