Flood fears ease as southern Alberta remains on alert
Crews are still monitoring, but it looks like the worst of it is over for
now.
DIANA WALTMANN
Can more residents let out a collective sigh of relief Sunday as a flood watch around the Bow River in their area was downgraded to a high streamflow advisory, due to falling water levels.
“I feel very positive about this, this is good news,” town councillor Hans Helder said Sunday, a day after water vacuums were flying off the shelves and nearly 1,000 sandbags were being prepared.
Some of Helder’s constituents complained of flooded basements, but none of the incidents were serious, he said.
His own four-storey condo parkade had some minor flooding, about ankle deep, after sump pumps stopped working.
“I just hope it doesn’t warm up too fast. We’re not out of the woods yet,” he said.
Sally Caudill, communications co-ordinator for the Town of Canmore, was also cheering the downgrade to high streamflow advisory, which means stream levels are still high and minor flooding could affect low-lying areas, but no major flooding is expected.
“People who have water in their basements will continue to deal with that, unfortunately. But the groundwater is stabilizing and starting to recede, which will help those folks,” she said. “We still have to watch the weather and snowmelt. But this means a little bit of a reprieve so we’ll take it.”
Town of Banff spokeswoman Diana Waltmann also reported receding water levels and drier conditions.
“As of (Saturday), we haven’t received any phone calls (about flooding),” she said. “Crews are still monitoring, but it looks like the worst of it is over for now.”
Meanwhile, central Alberta residents continue to watch warily as water levels continue to rise and a flood warning remains in effect around some parts of the Red Deer River basin.
The high water levels “present challenges” to the cleanup efforts near Sundre, where crews are still sopping up an oil spill from a pipeline breach.
“However, there is containment and we are satisfied with it,” said Jessica Potter, spokeswoman with Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development.
Plains Midstream Canada estimates nearly 475,000 litres of oil spilled into the Red Deer River.
Just south of the area, a flood warning remains in place for the Little Red Deer River, where high waters mean headaches for residents like Pauline Cummings.
She said her commute to work more than tripled after the bridge to the Water Valley General Store was flooded out, rerouting her through the neighbouring community of Cremona.
“I had to drive all the way around to get to Water Valley, about 32 kilometres. Usually it’s 10 kilometres from my house,” she said.
Overall, water levels are declining around most river basins across the province. An advisory for the Oldman River basin in southern Alberta has ended.
In Calgary, specialists continue to monitor the Bow and Elbow Rivers, said Frank Frigo, senior planning engineer with the city’s water resources department.
“Present levels will be sustained for a little while longer as basins drain out, but we’re already seeing some slight reductions on the lower Elbow and similarly on the Bow,” he said.
The Glenmore Reservoir continues to maintain a low water level in case of additional rainfalls this week. Some pathways remain flooded out, though most are “easily detourable,” he said.
Frigo cautioned that the flow rate is still high and the water is quite turbid and carrying lots of sediment, and warned people to stay away from the banks.
“There is also a possibility for erosion, and portions of the bank can be eroded by the force of the moving water,” he said.
Battalion chief Ernie Molineaux reminded thrill-seekers that water activities on the Bow River are not recommended.
“We are still not allowing our own crews on the water unless in a rescue operation, for our own safety,” he said.
Fire Department crews spent Sunday responding to minor flood calls, he said, adding many were related to improper downspouts and water pooling into the foundations.
As of Sunday evening, no weather warnings or watches were in effect for Alberta. Showers were expected Sunday overnight, and again on Wednesday, according to Environment Canada.