People throughout our area, especially those living along the shores of Lake Ontario and the Bay of Quinte, are watching the water closely these days.
Water levels in the lake are eight inches higher now than they were at this time last year but for now damaging flooding on properties hasn’t occurred.
The mayor of Brighton says his municipality is well prepared, having already dropped off sand and bags at 11 different locations along the lake and Brighton Bay.
Brian Ostrander says the spring melt from the north hasn’t been an issue but everything depends on how much water is let out of Lake Erie into Lake Ontario in future.
“It would seem, as of this moment, that the International Joint Commission’s decisions to increase outflows from Lake Ontario to the east has worked to some degree, however it’s still early and it depends on how much flows from Lake Erie and of course how much rain we get as to how we’ll be doing in May and June. Also windy weather causing heavy waves on the lake can really hurt.”
Having learned lessons from recent springs where serious flooding has occurred in this area, all Quinte region communities bordering the lake and bay have already made preparations to protect properties close to shorelines.
