The North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority is extending the Flood Watch that was issued on May 5th for the entire North Bay-Mattawa area due to high water levels currently. NBMCA Duty Officer Katelyn Lynch says they were fortunate on the weekend that the rainfall was on the lower end of what was expected, but water courses are still high and the storage capacity is limited. Lynch says there is flooding in some low-lying areas throughout the watershed.
Some water courses such as the La Vase River and Wasi River have peaked and are receding. The Ottawa River at Mattawa has caused backwater flooding on the Mattawa River, but it’s also reached its peak and is expected to continue to decrease. However, Lake Nipissing is currently at a level of 196.13m which is 18cm above the maximum operating level. Officials say with last weekend’s rainfall continuing to make its way from the far reaches of the watershed to the lake and more rain in the forecast for next weekend, there is still a potential risk of Lake Nipissing reaching flood level of 196.22 by next week.
Lynch added there is currently 10 to 15 millimetres of precipitation forecast for this coming weekend, however there is some uncertainty about the location and amount of precipitation that the North Bay-Mattawa area will receive. She says they’re continuing to monitor the weather forecast and water levels. Parks Creek levels in North Bay are also trending downward, but the conservative authority is prepared to operate the Parks Creek back flood control structure on Lakeshore Drive, if the levels in Lake Nipissing increase to the level that could impact properties upstream on the creek. Stop logs have been placed in the outer bays, but the central bay is still open and water is flowing into the lake.
The NBMCA is encouraging residents, especially those in low-lying areas, to monitor the conditions as they develop. Shorelines of creeks and rivers will be very slippery at this time and when combined with cold open water, pose a serious hazard. They also encourage parents to keep their children and pets away from watercourses. This flood watch message will be in effect until, or updated before, Tuesday, May 16th at noon.
