Some Gatineau residents in low-lying areas are now faced with knee-deep waters on residential roads as river waters spill onto sidewalks amid
flood warnings across the National Capital Region
.
The conditions follow a statement on Sunday, April 19, from Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette urging residents to take
all necessary precautions
.
Approximately 41 roads will be affected by water and 164 buildings are at risk of flooding, according to the City of Gatineau.
“Water levels may start stabilizing on Tuesday, but are expected to remain high for several days,” the city said in an online statement.
Flood risks have been brought on by recent downpours and melting snow as Ottawa and Gatineau enjoy warmer weather, with districts along the Ottawa River especially at risk.
Communities of concern in the west end include
Fitzroy Harbour, Dunrobin Shores and Constance Bay
. According to a statement issued by West Carleton Disaster Relief, water levels on April 20 stood at 60 metres above sea level, 23 centimetres higher than the same time last year, but 35 centimetres below the peak of the 2023 flood.
“This is a significant event, but not yet the worst we have seen,” the organization said.
According to the
Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board
, water levels are still above normal in Gatineau (Hull), Lake Deschenes at Britannia, Pembroke, Lake Coulonge at Fort-Coulonge, Chats Lake at Arnprior, Thurso and Grenville. It projected that levels will plateau over the next few days, rising only a few additional centimetres.
The planning board’s press release from April 13 warned “water levels and flows along the main stem of the Ottawa River are expected to increase and may exceed flood levels in some flood prone areas depending on weather.”
According to the board, major flood levels from Lake Coulonge to Carillon had been exceeded or were expected to be exceeded on Monday or Tuesday.
Some other districts are beginning to see better conditions. On April 20, Carp River conditions had returned to normal, according to the
Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority
.
Meanwhile, the
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
has had the Rideau River and Lower Ottawa River from Arnprior to Hawkesbury under flood watch since April 8 and April 17, respectively.
The spring flood risks have been brought on by the recent steady rains in the Ottawa area. Looking ahead, the Environment Canada forecast calls for a 40 per cent chance of showers (or flurries) in Ottawa on Tuesday, but the capital is to then get a break from the rain until Saturday, when there will again be a 40 per cent chance of showers.
The South Nation River has been under a water safety statement since April 14 from the
South Nation Conservation Authority
, in effect until 5 p.m. April 22 or until an update has been issued.
Both Ottawa and Gatineau have put up multiple sandbag stations, “depots” where residents can fill up sandbags to protect their properties. West Carleton Disaster Relief is encouraging residents to consider sandbagging and wall construction now.
“Do not wait for the next official forecast update,” the relief group said. “Getting started with a modest base puts you ahead of the second pulse of water that could hit in the coming weeks.”
Where to get sandbags in Ottawa
- 1125 Tweddle Rd.
- Leo Lane at East Shore Road
- Armstrong Road between Boise Lane and Phillip Road
- 262 Len Purcell Dr. (Constance Bay Community Centre)
- Greenland Road at Armitage Avenue
- 128 Moorhead Dr.
- Lighthouse Lane at Loggers Way
- 2145 Roger Stevens Dr.
- 4127 John Shaw Rd.
- Barry Mullen Park parking lot at Grandview Road
- End of Jamieson Street
- End of Rowatt Street
- Belltown Dome, 2915 Haughton Ave.
- 29 Hurdman Rd.
- 911 Industrial Ave.
(Ottawa has continued to keep several roads and paths closed as precautionary measures against the rising waters, including a few boat launches.)
Where to get sandbags in Gatineau
- Parc Louis-Roy (5 rue Louis-Roy, Aylmer);
- Parc du Lac-Beauchamp (745 boulevard Maloney Est, Gatineau);
- Parc Jack-Eyamie (40 rue du Bassin, Masson-Angers);
- Centre communautaire Saint-Jean-De Brébeuf parking lot (70 rue Moreau, Gatineau)
