Watershed Conditions – Safety Bulletin

Date: 10:00 A.M., Saturday, March 21, 2015

Issued to: Municipal Flood Coordinators of Municipalities, Media

Issued by: Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority

Warming temperatures over the last two weeks caused most of the snowpack in the lower Thames watershed to melt and run off into the region’s watercourses.  Some of the region’s smaller watercourses had reached bank full conditions or even topped their banks.  Water levels on these smaller watercourses have now dropped and areas of localized flooding are drying out.

Water levels throughout the lower Thames River are also now dropping.  Yesterday evening the Thames River opened up all the way to the mouth at Lake St. Clair and overnight most of the remaining ice on the river pushed out into the lake. The risk of ice jam related flooding has passed for this year.

While this events winds down, people should take extra caution and avoid the river, lakes, ditches, streams, and ponds.  The combination of slippery banks, moving/melting ice and cold water is particularly dangerous.  Parents should pay special attention to keep their children away from the water.

The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority will continue to monitor conditions and will issue additional messages as required.

Contact:  Jason Wintermute (519-354-7310 x227 or this email address) regarding this message.

An update to this message is not anticipated.