After near record-breaking snowfalls this winter, the mountains of snow at the Bayview snow dump have reached mountainous proportions.
After a long winter of late buses, covered sidewalks, snow removal contract disputes, cracked roofs and discussions of tax surcharges, Centretown residents won’t have to worry about flooding according to the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority.
The only area in Centretown that could conceivably be flooded is LeBreton Flats.
“In LeBreton Flats, our flood plain mapping indicates the banks are high enough that flood flows should be contained within the channel,” said Patrick Larson, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority senior water resources technician.
He pointed out that when the Ottawa River is flowing above average levels the trouble spots are further west in Britannia Bay rather than downtown.
As for the rest of Ottawa, Larson said the amount of snow creates potential for fairly significant flooding. The areas to watch will be Brewer Park, Windsor Park, Rideau Gardens, Cumberland, Westboro Beach and down around Cummings Bridge near Montreal Road.
“There are a few particularly low-lying houses that have driveways that go below ground, but generally it shouldn’t be a problem,” said Larson.
Further away, the Jock River, Tay River and Kemptville Creek will be the most troublesome regions, but this should only cause concern for Perth, Manotick and Kemptville residents.
The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, which monitors the water basin north and west of Ottawa has also expressed concerns and recently moved its watershed conditions from normal to advisory status.
Jennifer Lewis, of the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, said this means residents are advised to closely watch water levels, ensure sump pumps are working, clear drains of debris, and move valuable items from areas at risk of flooding.
The worst-case scenario for flooding in Ottawa and surrounding areas would be if temperatures rose above 10 degrees accompanied by rain.
Instead, Larson and other experts are hoping for “Maple Syrup Weather” which stays steady above zero in the day and just below at night. This would lead to a manageable melt.
Current expectations are not ideal as Environment Canada is calling for cooler weather until mid-April followed by a warmer and wetter spring.
Environment Canada’s senior climatologist, David Phillips, said he is actually hoping for more snow in Ottawa since the record snowfall of 444.6 centimetres from the winter of 1970-71 is roughly 20 centimetres away and could easily be broken.
“I am still hoping, to tell you the truth, almost in a perverse way, that you will break the record,” said Phillips laughing.
“To go though all this misery I think in many ways it would be rather cruel not to have something to brag about.”
Although it is now officially spring, Ottawa can still expect more snow.
Phillips said Ottawa typically gets 26 centimetres of snow after the first day of spring and with cooler than normal weather still expected in the short-term, Ottawa could break its annual snowfall record.
This is not necessarily bad news for flooding however.
Phillips points out that the issue is how the 81 centimetres of snowpack covering Ottawa melt.
Typically, at this time of year, there is only 20 to 30 centimetres of snowpack.
“If this snowpack was here during January we wouldn’t even be talking about it, but the fact it is here so late in the season is the concern,” said Phillips.
With moderately cold weather and limited snowfall and gradual warming, Ottawa can still avoid flooding with warm days and cold nights.
“From mid-March to mid-April we’re calling for cooler than normal temperatures in your area. Those are the kind of temperatures you need to get rid of the snowpile without flooding issues.”