Conservation authority warns of floods, shuts parks

CAMBRIDGE — Falling branches, flooding and toppling trees; the warnings from Grand River Conservation Authority during the brunt of the weekend’s ice storm was at times unnerving.

“The closure of our parks and trails is precautionary,” said Cam Linwood, the authority’s communications co-ordinator.

“There are a number of ash trees that have been heavily impacted by the emerald ash borer beetle.

“If it’s freezing rain, they (trees) will be impacted, they don’t have the strength.”

The authority had closed all parks, natural areas as well as trails over the weekend, stating that even trees that don’t experience breaking limbs could be uprooted due to heavily saturated ground loosening the root systems.

When the trees’ canopies become encrusted in ice, that makes the trees top heavy. With no solid root bed to hold it in place, they are in danger of falling over.

“A lot of trees could be impacted,” he said.

Linwood said that any fallen trees or broken branches will not immediately be removed by GRCA crews unless there is a danger to infrastructure such as any of the dams; otherwise, they will wait for safer weather conditions.

At the same time, the authority was warning residents living anywhere near the river and creek systems to stay away from the waters’ edge given the slippery, dangerous conditions.

The authority was also warning residents that the region could experience heavy rainfall into Tuesday, which could in turn lead to extensive flooding.

Rainfall totals over a five-day period are expected to reach upwards of 90 millimetres and that amount of rainfall, combined with wet or frozen ground which can’t absorb water, is expected to result in rising flows in rivers and streams.

The last major ice storms happened in December 2013 and early 2014, causing $570,000 in damage.