It promises to be an anxious next few days for property owners who live alongside or near the Vermilion and Onaping River systems.
Spring runoff is in full gear with both river systems full to capacity, although, as of Friday afternoon, there hadn?t been any serious flooding in these areas, said Paul Sajatovic, community relations co-ordinator for the Nickel District Conservation Authority.
?At this point and time all of our water systems in the area have stabilized and water is flowing at high levels throughout the region,? said Sajatovic. ?We?ve still maintained the flood advisory for the Onaping and Vermilion River systems and will continue to do so until we have sufficient evidence these systems have peaked and water levels will start to go down.?
Field officers are out in force and regular helicopter patrols are being conducted to ensure watercourses and feeder streams remain open and flowing, even if the flow is extremely heavy, said Sajatovic.
?Peak flows are not expected in the near term? and it?s going to take at least several more days before the flood advisory is lifted, he said.
There is still plenty of ?winter like conditions? in the northern section of the watercourse near the Onaping and Vermilion Rivers. More snow will have to melt and enter the system before flooding concerns dissipate, he said.
The massive amount of rain received last fall is playing a key role in the flood advisory warnings as there was so much rain over such an extended period the watercourses were higher than normal and must now deal with heavy snowfall runoff, he said.
The NDCA will continue to work alongside the City of Greater Sudbury Public Works department to ensure watercourses remain unclogged and water can flow freely.
The city issued a release Friday stating Boundary Road between Konka Road and Fen Road, Grassy Lake Road east of Carol Road and Spanish River Road between Nairn Centre and Manninen Road had all been closed due to high water levels on the Vermiliion River system.
