The township of Whitewater Region is preparing to help residents incase of severe flooding in some areas. Above normal temperatures and rain may increase river flows and levels. With that, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has issued a Flood Warning for the region. Municipal staff say that sand and sandbags will be made available at Sunset Trail, McWitt Trail and Sandpoint Trail, as well as Greenway Drive at Coulonge Lake Trail and Hilltop Drive. The Township’s Fire and Public Works Department will be monitoring roads for flooding and potential closures. Be sure to stay with us for the latest.
The ORRPG Regulating Committee anticipates that levels could exceed the start of major flood levels along the Ottawa River starting Wednesday, April 19, 2023.
Levels are expected to stabilize thereafter, for several days. The maximum levels to be reached this week are expected to be well below the historical high of 2019.
The river conditions forecast for this coming week (week of April 17) is as follows:
– Record high temperatures over the last week are causing the heavy snowpack to melt very rapidly in the uncontrolled tributaries of the Ottawa River including the Black, Coulonge and Petawawa Rivers.
– Accounting for the combined effect of the rapid snowmelt and the on-going rain event, the ORRPB Committee now anticipates that levels will exceed the thresholds for the start of flooding at Lake Coulonge starting Wednesday April 19. Levels are expected to remain stable thereafter.
(Written by: Kyle Robinson)