NEWS RELEASE
GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY
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While river levels throughout the watershed have stabilized on Friday and have started receding in the northern portion of the watershed, some communities still remain under a Flood Warning due to significantly elevated river flows for this time of year.
Small ice jams remain in place along the Eramosa River, affecting residents in those areas. A small amount of ice remains in the river channel south of Brantford, but is not impeding river flow.
Caution is urged around all local waterways due to river flows that are much higher than normal. With some additional rainfall in the forecast, rivers will remain very high well into next week.
Flood Warning
- Township of Puslinch/Wellington County: Puslinch and Wellington County Flood Coordinators should continue to monitor conditions along the Eramosa River. Flows have come down, but ice jams remain in place at Cooks Mill Road and Indian Trail, causing water to impact roads and properties in the area. These ice jams should be monitored closely and precautions should be taken to notify any residents in the immediate area of the ice jams.
- Township of Woolwich / St. Jacobs: Flood coordinators in Woolwich Township are asked to monitor conditions and maintain the closure of Three Bridges road. Flows will remain high through the remainder of the week as reservoir operations continue.
- City of Cambridge: Flows in the Grand River through Cambridge will remain high for the next week. Flood coordinators are asked to monitor conditions along the Speed River maintain the closure of Blackbridge Road due to elevated river flows through Friday evening.
- City of Brantford: The ice jam that was causing issues in Brantford released at approximately 2:00 p.m. on Thursday. Much of the ice from this jam moved downstream and out of the river channel. Some ice remains in the river channel near Oxbow Road and is being monitored. The river is flowing around the ice and it is not a concern for upstream residents. Residents should follow the direction of municipal staff and stay away from all waterways due to the extreme safety risk at this time.
- Six Nations/Haldimand County – Caledonia: Some ice remains in the channel, south of Brantford in the area of Oxbow Road. There is a risk that this ice and debris may still move downstream, and residents in the floodplain should be made aware. Flows on the Grand River through Six Nations and Caledonia in Haldimand County will remain high for the next week. Six Nations and Haldimand County flood coordinators should closely monitor conditions along the Grand River and take appropriate precautions.
- Haldimand County – Cayuga: Flows on the Grand River through Cayuga will remain high through the next week. Haldimand County flood coordinators are asked to continue to monitor conditions and be aware of ice and debris that may still flow downstream.
- Town of Dunnville/Port Maitland: Canadian Coast Guard icebreaking operations have been completed in the mouth of the Grand River and Lake Erie. This action has helped reduce the potential for ice jams at this location. Haldimand County flood coordinators are asked to continue to monitor conditions as river flows will remain high through the next and ice and debris may still flow downstream.
Flood Watch
- Town of Grand Valley / Waldemar: Flows continue to recede through Grand Valley. A Flood Warning has been terminated for this area, but a Flood Watch remains in effect as river flows will remain high through the remainder of the week.
- Township of Mapleton/Drayton: Flows continue to recede through Drayton. A Flood Warning has been terminated for this area, but a Flood Watch remains in effect as river flows will remain high through the remainder of the week.
- Township of Wilmot – New Hamburg: Flows continue to recede through New Hamburg. A Flood Warning has been terminated for this area, but a Flood Watch remains in effect as river flows will remain high through the remainder of the week.
- Township of Blandford-Blenheim – Wolverton: Flows continue to recede on the Nith River through the community of Wolverton but will remain high for the remainder of the week.
- Township of North Dumfries - Ayr: Flows continue to recede through the community of Ayr but will remain high for the remainder of the week.
- Brant County: Flows along the Grand River continue to recede but will remain high for the next week.
GRCA Reservoirs
All GRCA reservoirs are currently holding water above their normal operating and will continue to release water over the next week as they are brought back within regular operating levels for this time of year. Downstream communities should be aware of the increased flows through the next week.
Stay Safe
The public is reminded to exercise extreme caution around all water bodies. Banks adjacent to rivers and creeks are very slippery at this time and, when combined with current weather conditions, pose a serious hazard. Parents are encouraged to keep their children and pets away from all watercourses and off frozen water bodies, which will be extremely unsafe as a result of the warming trend.
This message will remain in effect until 3:00 p.m. on Monday, February 26, 2018. Updated flood messages will be issued as conditions develop and better forecast information becomes available.
More information
- For more information on flows, weather and reservoir conditions see the River Data section of the GRCA website.
- Safety information for parents and children is available in the GRCA’s River Safety Rules booklet.
- More information on the flood warning system is available on the GRCA website.
- Receive GRCA flood messages by e-mail by subscribing through the GRCA website.
- Follow GRCA flood messages on Twitter at grca_flood_msg.
- More information about how the GRCA manages floods is available in the Flooding section of the website.
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