Ottawa River expected to peak at major flood level this week | CBC News

The Ottawa River is expected to stop rising for the time being in the Ottawa-Gatineau region by the middle of this week, according to the latest forecasts.

Water levels farther west in Pembroke, Lac Couronge and Arnprior are stabilizing at flood levels well above average and last year’s flood levels, according to an update Sunday afternoon from the Ottawa River Regulation and Planning Commission.

This rise is being driven by daily rain and melting snow further north, both of which are expected to be about 60 centimeters below the previous record set in 2019.

Communities further downstream or east are expected to see rising waters before levels level out on Tuesday or Wednesday.

The commission said Britannia and Thurso could rise another 25 centimeters from Sunday’s mark, while Hull could rise about 40 centimeters. Both are expected to remain at least 60 centimeters from the all-time high of the past 10 years.

This is expected to be the fourth major flood in the region in the past decade, with a significant number of buildings and roads affected, following in 2017, 2019 and 2023.

Last year was generally considered to have experienced minor flooding.

Fort Coulonge state of emergency declared

The city of Fort Coulonge in Kenya state declared a state of emergency on Sunday night to assist with flood response.

The community of about 1,300 people west of Gatineau installed two levees and closed the Marchand Bridge, also known as the Red Bridge.

Free sand is available at the arena on rue du Center Récréatif. If you need a bag, please call 819-664-0301.

Residents are being asked to limit their drinking water use to support water treatment plants.

Response details

There is a growing list of road closures across the region due to flooding.

Similar to past spring floods, the eastbound Highway 50 ramp to Saint-Louis Avenue in Gatineau was closed last weekend due to water levels.

In Gatineau, there are multiple flood-related road closures and restrictions in place, primarily between Point Gatineau and Templeton, and in Ottawa, there are two near the east end: Tweddle Road and Boise Lane to Petrie Island.

WATCH | What’s happening on Petrie Island on Monday:

Residents are monitoring high water levels in the Ottawa River.

Roads to Petrie Island are already closed due to rising water levels in the Ottawa River. Residents are keeping an eye on predictions of what will happen next. Joseph Tunney reports.

The Ecoros ferry between Thurso and Clarence Rockland is closed and restrictions are in place on the Bourbonnais ferry between Cumberland and Massons Angers. Kuyon Ferry runs regularly.

Many flood-affected municipalities, including Arnprior, Clarence-Rockland, Grenville-sur-la-Rouge, Mansfield-et-Pontefract and the Whitewater area, are providing sand and bags, closing roads and making other changes. Please check yourself for the latest information.

Offshore the Ottawa River, flood watches are in place along the Mississippi River, in the Tay Valley and Rideau Lake regions of the Rideau River watershed, and inland waterways in the Quinte Reserve, the second-highest level on the province’s four-tier scale.

Quebec’s flood map lists areas on the Rivière Coulonges in Mansfield-et-Pontefract and the Rivière de la Petit-Nation in Ripon as being at moderate flood risk, meaning people may have to leave their homes or sewers may back up.

Minor flooding is occurring in places such as Gracefield and Sainte-Thérèse de la Gatineau, and there is a flooding concern in the Gatineau River near the Alonzo Wright Bridge.