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Caution: Ice being removed from Parks Creek to avoid flooding

Each year the capacity of Parks Creek to absorb the spring melt and manage the flood control structure on the creek at Eva Wardlaw Conservation Area is assessed to ensure that people and property along the creek are safe from the risks associated with flooding

 The annual ice removal on Parks Creek off Lakeshore Drive is set to begin Monday and the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority is urging the public and snowmobilers to stay off the creek and away from its mouth.

“The purpose of removing the ice is to allow spring runoff to flow unobstructed into Lake Nipissing and prevent flooding in the lower reaches of the creek” explains Chitra Gowda, CAO of NBMCA.

The Park Creek Backflood Control Structure located at Eva Wardlaw Conservation Area was installed in 1994/95 to prevent high water levels in Lake Nipissing from backing up Parks Creek and flooding its surrounding low lands causing basement flooding and overcharging the municipal storm sewer system for approximately 500 homes.

“Removal of ice between the flood control structure and Lake Nipissing will help minimize the risk of any property flooding or ice damage to the control structure,” said Shelley Belanger, NBMCA Vice-Chair.

Each year NBMCA assesses the capacity of Parks Creek to absorb the spring melt and manages the flood control structure on the creek at Eva Wardlaw Conservation Area to ensure that people and property along the creek are safe from the risks associated with flooding.  

Lakeshore Drive residents in the area should experience minimal disruption from the ice removal project. The NBMCA is not anticipating any disturbance to the creek bed and the ice will be piled on the banks of Parks Creek to slowly melt. The public is urged to stay away from the ice piles.

NBMCA monitors the melting snowpack, precipitation, temperatures as well as water levels in area lakes and streams as part of Flood Forecasting and Warning Program.  



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