For residents in flood prone areas, the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) suggests the most effective method of reducing flood damages is to make a plan and be prepared to execute it if necessary.

Tips on the proper handling and disposal of sandbags.

Frequently asked questions of the Conservation Authority and the Ottawa Septic System Office

Water levels have declined through the week and are not expected to be affected significantly by rain forecast for the weekend.

With no rain through the week water levels have had time to decline. On the Ottawa, levels below Chaudiere Falls have gone down more than 50 centimetres (cm). The Long Reach on the Rideau has dropped 30 cm.

The Flood Warning will remain in effect through the weekend because of 20 or more millimetres of rain forecast for Saturday and Sunday. However, to have an impact, the rain would need to be from a widespread system with heavy rain at times. Indications are that the rain will come as showers spread over two days. Smaller streams can be expected to have increased flows and some ponding in still wet fields is likely.

Residents in the areas the RVCA monitors on the Ottawa River, Lac Deschene, Petrie Island and Boise Village, can expect to see a continuing decline in levels through the weekend.

Long Reach of the Rideau River will also continue to drop toward navigation level. Hilly Lane has less than 10 cm to go before the road is out of the water.

Big Rideau Lake levels have finally started to decline after Parks Canada staff reduced the inflow from Upper Rideau. Both Upper Rideau and Wolfe Lakes have been gradually dropping.

Water levels on Bobs Lake have remained high despite outflow through the Bolingbroke Dam. Christie Lake continues to have flood issues because the outlet of the lake is too narrow to pass the excess water quickly. Levels on Bobs Lake have been above Full Supply since the spring freshet in early April and relief became necessary.

Flows in the Tay through Perth are presently on a downward trend but the recession may be slow as water passes through from Bobs Lake. Some flooding has occurred in Stewart Park and in and near Last Duel Park in Perth.

Residents are advised to stay away from watercourses where flows are high and where banks might be unstable. Parents are encouraged to explain these dangers to their children.

Only if it is safe to do so, the public is encouraged to share photos of water conditions in their area via RVCA Facebook (@RideauValleyConservationAuthority) and Twitter (@RideauValleyCA).

Conservation Authority staff will continue to monitor conditions and will issue updates as warranted.

For water level and flow information in the Rideau system as well as the Ottawa River, visit the RVCA Streamflows and Water Levels webpage at http://his.rvca.ca/rvcafwl/.

For more information about conditions on the Ottawa River, also check the webpage of the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board at http://ottawariver.ca/river-levels-flows.php#river-levels-flows-7-days.

Flood levels on both the Ottawa and Rideau River systems can be expected to decline through the week following peak flows on Monday.

No rain is in the forecast for today or tomorrow. During that time, water levels can be expected to decline slowly. However, the Flood Warning will remain in effect because of up to 40 millimetres of rain forecast to start on Thursday or Friday. The impact will depend on how much levels have subsided, how widespread the weather system is and how intensely the rain falls.

The areas the RVCA monitors on the Ottawa River, Lac Deschene, Petrie Island and Boise Village, all continue to be flooded.

Flood waters are also still present on the Long Reach of the Rideau River.

Big Rideau Lake levels continue to rise by 1 to 1.5 centimetres a day. Parks Canada staff will reduce the flow over the dam between Big and Upper Rideau in an effort to control that rise.

Bobs Lake levels remain high despite outflow through the Bolingbroke Dam that is causing high water levels on Christie Lake.

Flows in the Tay through Perth are presently on a downward trend but the recession may be prolonged by the outpouring from Bobs Lake.

Residents are advised to stay away from watercourses where flows are high and where banks might be unstable. Parents are encouraged to explain these dangers to their children.

Only if it is safe to do so, the public is encouraged to share photos of water conditions in their area via RVCA Facebook (@RideauValleyConservationAuthority) and Twitter (@RideauValleyCA).

Conservation Authority staff will continue to monitor conditions and will issue updates as warranted.

For water level and flow information in the Rideau system as well as the Ottawa River, visit the RVCA Streamflows and Water Levels webpage at http://his.rvca.ca/rvcafwl/.

For more information about conditions on the Ottawa River, also check the webpage of the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board at http://ottawariver.ca/river-levels-flows.php#river-levels-flows-7-days.

Flood levels can be expected to decline through the afternoon today as peaks are being reached on the Rideau and tributaries.

Peak levels have been or are being reached in the lower Rideau watershed downstream of Smiths Falls as runoff from the heavy weekend rains passes through the system. The general indication is that levels are stabilizing and will decline over the afternoon.

The Long Reach of the Rideau has stabilized and can be expected to start to decline this afternoon. It will take a couple of days for the flood waters to fully recede from the roadways. Hilly Lane, for example, has over 30 centimetres of water to shed.

The Rideau Canal reservoir lake levels continue to be well above the “Full Supply Limit”. Upper Rideau Lake has begun to decline and Parks Canada staff will cut back the outflow to Big Rideau to help reduce levels there. Outflow continues to be passed through the Bolingbroke Dam in an effort to reduce flood levels on Bobs and Crow Lakes. The unfortunate recipient of that outflow is Christie Lake where flooding is also occurring. Flows in the Tay through Perth are presently on a downward trend but the recession may be prolonged by the outpouring from Bobs Lake.

Residents are advised to stay away from watercourses where flows are high and where banks might be unstable. Parents are encouraged to explain these dangers to their children.

Only if it is safe to do so, the public is encouraged to share photos of water conditions in their area via RVCA Facebook (@RideauValleyConservationAuthority) and Twitter (@RideauValleyCA).

Conservation Authority staff will continue to monitor conditions and will issue updates as warranted.

For water level and flow information in the Rideau system as well as the Ottawa River, visit the RVCA Streamflows and Water Levels webpage at http://his.rvca.ca/rvcafwl/.

For more information about conditions on the Ottawa River, also check the webpage of the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board at http://ottawariver.ca/river-levels-flows.php#river-levels-flows-7-days.

Measurements on the Ottawa River indicate that water levels are stabilizing.

This Flood Warning applies to areas around Lac Deschene, at Petrie Island and at Boise Village to the east of Cumberland.

All locations covered by this statement are expected to have river water levels stabilize this morning and possibly reach peaks this afternoon or evening. There is no significant rain presently forecast that would cause levels to rise again. The decline water levels may be prolonged by releases from upstream dams as excess water from the more northerly parts of the watershed pass through the system.

It will take several days for the water to recede to normal levels and parents need to stay vigilant to keep their children away particularly from flowing water.

Only if it is safe to do so, the public is encouraged to share photos of water conditions in their area via RVCA Facebook (@RideauValleyConservationAuthority) and Twitter (@RideauValleyCA).

Conservation Authority staff will continue to monitor conditions and will issue updates as warranted.

For water level and flow information in the Rideau system as well as the Ottawa River, visit the RVCA Streamflows and Water Levels webpage at http://his.rvca.ca/rvcafwl/.

For more information about conditions on the Ottawa River, also check the webpage of the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board at http://ottawariver.ca/river-levels-flows.php#river-levels-flows-7-days.

Water levels continue to rise but at a slower rate as the rain ends

This Flood Warning applies to areas around Lac Deschene, at Petrie Island and at Boise Village to the east of Cumberland.

All locations covered by this statement are expected to have river water levels stabilize through today as the rainfall system passes out of eastern Ontario. A peak is expected to be reached by tomorrow on the Ottawa as the flows in the tributary rivers reach peaks through this evening and overnight.

Some more rain is in Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry weather forecasts but it is not expected to be as widespread as the rains this weekend and are only likely to prolong the decline of levels after the peak.

Attempting to drive or walk in water more than 30 centimetres depth is not safe. Parents need to inform children about the dangers of going near flooded areas and fast moving water in streams and ditches.

Only if it is safe to do so, the public is encouraged to share photos of water conditions in their area via RVCA Facebook (@RideauValleyConservationAuthority) and Twitter (@RideauValleyCA).

Conservation Authority staff will continue to monitor conditions and will issue updates as warranted.

For water level and flow information in the Rideau system as well as the Ottawa River, visit the RVCA Streamflows and Water Levels webpage at http://his.rvca.ca/rvcafwl/.

For more information about conditions on the Ottawa River, also check the webpage of the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board at http://ottawariver.ca/river-levels-flows.php#river-levels-flows-7-days.

 The rain is forecast to tail off today and tomorrow in Eastern Ontario finishing with a bout of freezing rain and snow flurries in some locations.

Flows in the Rideau system are now not expected to reach flows experienced in the spring freshet (defined as a flood of a river from heavy rain or melted snow). The rate of rise in the Rideau and its tributaries is slowing as the lower reaches of the system stabilize. Levels on the Long Reach will decline to navigation levels and access to Hilly Lane and its neighbours will improve through the coming week. Waters will also subside gradually from Brantwood and Windsor Parks.

The Rideau Canal reservoir lake levels continue to be well above the “Full Supply Limit”. Parks Canada staff had to make changes to the dam settings on Bobs Lake as it became necessary to release water as levels rose. Unfortunately, that increased the extent of flooding around Christie Lake. The impact of the release from Bobs Lake on the Tay River is not expected to mean a higher peak on the Tay. Rather, flows are expected to continue to be high for several days.

The flood waters continue to be hazardous and caution is needed. Parents need to inform children about the dangers.

Only if it is safe to do so, the public is encouraged to share photos of water conditions in their area via RVCA Facebook (@RideauValleyConservationAuthority) and Twitter (@RideauValleyCA).

Conservation Authority staff will continue to monitor conditions and will issue updates as warranted.

For water level and flow information in the Rideau system as well as the Ottawa River, visit the RVCA Streamflows and Water Levels webpage at http://his.rvca.ca/rvcafwl/.

For more information about conditions on the Ottawa River, also check the webpage of the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board at http://ottawariver.ca/river-levels-flows.php#river-levels-flows-7-days.

Water levels in the Rideau Valley are expected to reach levels previously reached on April 7.

Rainfall will continue to cause levels to rise again inundating those locations flooded recently in the spring freshet. Road ways in the communities on the Long Reach of the Rideau River between Kars and Kemptville have already been water covered or will be later today.

Belmont Avenue and the Windsor Park pathway in Ottawa South and Brantwood Park in Ottawa East will be flooded again. No other flooding in the urban area adjacent to the Rideau River is expected to be flooded.

All of the dams in the system have been adjusted to allow as much water as possible to pass through. However, the levels on many of the lakes in the upper watershed are high causing shoreline flooding, access issues, erosion and damage to structures. It is expected that it will take some time to return to normal levels once a peak is reached.

As the flood waters rise, so too does the hazard level. Flooded roads are dangerous to drive and walk on and moving water and slippery streambanks are not good places for anyone to be. Parents need to inform children about the dangers.

The rain is forecast to end on Sunday and a peak can be expected late Sunday or Monday.

Conservation Authority staff will continue to monitor conditions and will issue updates as warranted.

For water level and flow information in the Rideau system as well as the Ottawa River, visit the RVCA Streamflows and Water Levels webpage at http://his.rvca.ca/rvcafwl/.

For more information about conditions on the Ottawa River, also check the webpage of the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board at http://ottawariver.ca/river-levels-flows.php#river-levels-flows-7-days.