Communities along the Ottawa River brace for spring flooding

People living near the Ottawa River are being cautioned about higher water levels this weekend, with several conservation authorities issuing flood warnings.

Authorities that monitor the river say they're not expecting anything close to the record-breaking floods of previous years. But the latest warnings have some who lived through those floods bracing for the worst. 

"In Constance Bay, we're all very concerned because most of us on the water have flooded," said Gerry Blyth, whose house flooded in both 2017 and 2019.

Blyth said he spent his retirement savings to raise his house, and feels certain that the area will see flooding again.

"If current patterns continue, we are heading into spring with little to no remaining flood safety margin," he also wrote in an email to CBC.

25 to 30 cm expected

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority and South Nation Conservation have all issued warnings that water levels could rise between 25 and 30 centimetres in some places by the weekend.

Flows and levels on the main stem of the Ottawa River are rising due to increased runoff from rainfall combined with snow melt, according to the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board's website.

Minor flood levels have already been reached in the most at-risk spots from Mattawa, Ont., all the way down to the Fitzroy Harbour and Britannia areas of Ottawa, the board said.

That stretch of the river could hit major flood levels "depending on the speed of snowmelt and precipitation" coming early next week, the board said.

Water levels from Gatineau to Hawkesbury, Ont., however, are expected to remain below that threshold — but still above minor flood levels.

Some flooding is normally expected this time of year, but the weekend forecasts suggest water levels won't be record-breaking, said Laura Reinsborough, CEO of the non-profit Ottawa Riverkeeper.

"It's not currently forecasted to be close to what we remember for 2019 or 2017 — those extreme, beyond historic levels of flooding," she told CBC.

Thousands of sandbags handed out

West Carleton-March Coun. Clarke Kelly said Blyth's experience is "indicative of the frustration in the community."

However, Clarke said he's been "extraordinarily impressed" with the city's response this year. Sandbagging stations have been ready since last weekend, with more than 20,000 bags already distributed.

"The city's annual freshet task force has done a great job of making sure that supplies are there for people should they need them," he told CBC Radio's All In A Day on Friday.

"And we continue to monitor the situation and hope that they don't need them,"

Reinsborough says people living in flood-prone areas should adjust their plans this weekend and watch for alerts from the city or planning board in case forecasts change.

"Municipalities are generally on top of this. They will be issuing any alerts or any evacuations if that is needed," she said.

"And I think that the lessons we've learned in 2017 and 2019 have helped us mobilize so that we can be ready in case."

9:32Flood warnings are out for people who live along the Ottawa River...again.

Flood warnings are out for people who live along the Ottawa River, with levels expected to peak today or tomorrow. We ask Clarke Kelly, the councillor for West Carleton-March, how people in his ward are reacting to the warnings.