Second wave of floods is expected in Fort-Coulonge/Mansfield by Friday

Second wave of floods is expected in Fort-Coulonge/Mansfield by Friday

According to the most recent forecast by the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board, water levels are expected to rise in the Coulonge Lake rapidly over the next few days and could peak at 109.15m above sea level. Friday, May 10th, is when new floods are expected in Fort-Coulonge and Mansfield. The mayors of Fort-Coulonge and Mansfield, Gaston Allard and Gilles Dionne, came to CHIP to give an update of their current situation;

Regarding the rise in water levels, the mayor of Mansfield is advising citizens to reinforce sand dikes and to prepare for the worse. Gilles Dionne;

On their website, the Board explained that the second wave of flooding is due to snow melt combined with precipitation received in the northern sector of the watershed, which are rapidly filling the reservoirs in Abitibi-Témiscamingue. The water that cannot be retained by the reservoirs, flows into the river downstream which quickly raises water levels between Mattawa and Coulonge Lake.

According to the mayors, the production of sand bags has stopped but there are still some in reserve for the residents in need.

The complete interview is available here.