Water levels on Lake Nipissing have risen again from recent rainfall and are expected to continue to rise, prompting the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority to extend its Flood Warning to Wednesday.
Besides Saturday’s precipitation in the North Bay-Mattawa area, there is at least one system moving through the area this week, although currently only minor precipitation is forecasted in the North Bay-Mattawa area.
“Lake Nipissing continues to respond to the received rainfall, and recent strong west winds have driven up water levels on the east side of the lake, affecting the shoreline in North Bay and Callander. This may also pose a threat to properties along the Lake Nipissing and Callander Bay shoreline, as well as along the lower La Vase River and Jessups Creek,” said Kurtis Romanchuk, NBMCA Duty Officer.
There is a strong potential that Lake Nipissing may exceed 196.59 metres above sea level over the next week, and the outflow at the French River Dams is being reassessed on a continuous basis to manage the inflow and flooding on Lake Nipissing and the French River. Further increases to flows through the dams will be based on daily analysis of the current status of the lake and river and as agreed to by the Sturgeon-Nipissing-French-Wanapitei Water Management Group.
NBMCA has been operating the Parks Creek Backflood Control Structure on Red Alert and pumping since May 2, to help mitigate flooding and sewer back-up for 350 homes in the Parks Creek neighbourhood. The pumps will remain in operation until Lake Nipissing’s water levels return to normal levels.
Boat launches at Champlain Park and Sunset Park remain closed due to the high waters in those locations. Boats are being urged to be mindful of their wake and to avoid shorelines and flood-prone areas.
Updates on conditions can be found on the NBMCA website.
Sand and sandbags are available to residents for the purpose of protecting their properties at the Public Works yard on Franklin Street but filling stations at Sunset Park at the end of Sunset Boulevard and Champlain Park at the end of Premier Road will no longer be operated. The City is prepared to ramp back up its resources at those sites if required.
