The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s Flood Warning for the region has been extended once again, but only for a few more days. Flows and levels on the Ottawa River continue to rise due to increased runoff from significant rainfall over the last few days. The flood warning is set to expire as of Tuesday. Water levels and flows are expected to stabilize into the weekend and should start to decline slowly into next week with the return of sunny and drier weather.
Reservoirs in the northern part of the watershed, which are being used to store runoff and minimize flooding downstream, are rapidly filling. Once reservoirs are full, they will have little capacity to reduce river flows in downstream areas. Levels will therefore remain susceptible to further rise should additional significant rainfall occur over the coming few weeks.
Levels are expected to slightly exceed the major flood threshold in Pembroke. Levels are above major flood threshold in Lake Coulonge and are expected to exceed that threshold in Chats Lake and Lake Deschenes.
(Written by: Kyle Robinson)
