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Rain, snowmelt causes flooding around region Quinte Conservation issues warning for Napanee, Salmon Rivers BY SETH DUCHENE Editor
Lisa Presley - Staff
As the rain fell on Tuesday, the Napanee River spilled over its banks at Springside Park, enough to cover a nearby sidewalk. The public is being asked to stay away from local waterways as rain and snowmelt cause rivers and creeks to swell. Social .................................4 INSIDE Op/Ed............................. 6/7
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Heavy rainfall in recent days coupled with significant snowmelt have local rivers overflowing their banks, and sump pumps working overtime. Quinte Conservation issued a flood warning on Monday as the Napanee and Salmon Rivers’ water levels rose quickly while heavy rains pushed through the area. “Water levels in the Napanee and Salmon Rivers are cresting and will continue to go up over the next couple of days. We are advising local municipalities and residents along these rivers to be aware of changing conditions,” said Quinte Conservation Water Resources Manager Bryon Keene on Tuesday. The conservation authority continued the flood warning for the area yesterday morning. The public is being advised to stay away from all waterways — unstable ice, slippery banks and frigid open water conditions are extremely dangerous. As of Tuesday afternoon, the watershed had received 25 millimeters of rain, and more rain was forecast for today. Quinte Conservation also said that while most of the snow in the southern part of the watershed has melted, there is still a significant amount of snow further north. The authority said that the most recent snow report estimated that some 150 millimetres of water equivalent in snow has yet to melt. That ongoing snowmelt will feed rivers “well into next week,” and flows in local waterways will steadily increase through mid-April. On Wednesday, the conservation authority indicated that along the southern portions of the
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Napanee and Salmon Rivers, the rivers’ levels have crested; however, the upper regions of the watershed could still see water levels rise. “The recent rain is making its way through the system. Warmer temperatures in the forecast will add more melt to our river systems,” said Keene. Quinte Conservation says that its staff are monitoring conditions closely. Anyone concerned about flooding or ice jams may call the Quinte Conservation office 24 hours a day and follow the prompts to report any flooding. The numbers to call are (613) 968-3434 or (613) 354-3312. A flood warning means that flooding is imminent or already occurring in a specific watercourse or municipality. As such, municipalities and local residents should take action. The Parkview subdivision east of Napanee saw its park end up underwater in a matter of a few hours as the nearby Napanee River overflowed its banks. In Napanee, the river began to spill over the banks into the nearby Springside Park. At Greater Napanee council on Tuesday night, council members briefly discussed the flooding situation, and reiterated the conservation authority’s warning that the public stay away from local waterways. Stone Mills Township was forced to close Ratti Road, which runs between Hinch Road and Centreville Road, on Tuesday as water spilled over the roadway. The public can be kept up-todate on flooding issues by visiting www.quinteconservation.ca or following @quinteca on Twitter. For more local flooding pictures, see Page 18. With notes from Ashley Espinoza
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Vol. 145 No. 15