Spring flood 2025: Several roads closed to local traffic in Mansfield, levels starting to decline

Spring flood 2025: Several roads closed to local traffic in Mansfield, levels starting to decline

With minor flood levels reached in several waterfront municipalities in Pontiac, many are closely monitoring the daily updates from the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board for signs of hope. According to the latest update on May 5, the level of Lac Coulonge is forecasted to hold at around 108.15 m for the next few days, depending on the amount of rain received this week, as well as the continued runoff from the northern part of the watershed.

The Municipality of Mansfield-et-Pontefract, the most affected municipality in the region, issued a statement on May 6 that they are starting to see declines in the levels on the Ottawa and the Coulonge.

“While this news is encouraging, we want to emphasize the importance of remaining vigilant and alert to any potential changes in the coming weeks,” the statement reads.

Mayor Sandra Armstrong said that she and municipal workers have been monitoring the situation closely over the weekend, and have closed several roads to local traffic only. She added that even though there was limited damage to private properties compared to previous floods, the high water has a big, expensive impact on their road infrastructure.

Armstrong said that at the next MRC planning session they would be discussing a response to the frequent flooding that has been seen since 2017, and pushing for higher levels of government to investigate. She said that groups on both sides of the river have been advocating for an investigation into the management of river levels for some time.

The statement from the municipality also notes that while there is no restriction on boating on the Ottawa River at this time, they ask that boaters be respectful of inundated properties and keep their distance. Any suspicious boating activity around flooded properties should be reported to police.

The conditions and forecasted levels for the Ottawa River are available here.