The Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority (CRCA) is extending the current Water Safety Statement into next week.
Warm temperatures and rainfall has melted all but small pockets of snow in the CRCA watershed. The resulting elevated creek levels have been falling for several days now.
Slower to respond, lake levels have also come up because of these seasonal changes. The additional rainfall today will cause creeks to begin to rise somewhat over the next couple days.
Widespread flooding is NOT expected. However, safety around creeks and waterbodies remains an important issue for residents to be aware of.
The CRCA continues to urge residents to exercise caution around lakes and streams, to stay off thinning ice cover and away from cold, deep, fast flowing watercourses and dams.
CRCA staff will continue to monitor conditions and forecasts, and update our messaging to suit.
This statement is valid until: March 15, 2017
A watershed conditions statement is NOT a flood warning. Its purpose is to raise public awareness about a change or potential change in watershed conditions.
Watershed conditions terminology:
Watershed Conditions Statement: general notice of weather conditions that could pose a risk to personal safety or which have the potential to lead to flooding.
There are two variations of these:
* Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety: High flows, unsafe banks, melting ice or other factors could be dangerous for recreational users such as anglers, canoeists, hikers, children, pets, etc. Flooding is not expected.
* Watershed Conditions Statement – Flood Outlook: Early notice of the potential for flooding based on weather forecasts calling for heavy rain, snow melt, high wind or other conditions that could lead to high runoff, cause ice jams, lakeshore flooding or erosion.
Release source: CRCA.ca | Photo: Wikimedia Commons (cc)
