Water levels to stay high for days
Recreational activities discouraged near lakes, streams as local rains cause widespread flooding, danger
WATERLOO REGION — People are advised to remain cautious around rivers in the Grand River watershed as the waters are still high and fast moving after Friday’s deluge of rain.
High flows are expected to continue well into the week, from Cambridge to Brantford, and recreational activities are discouraged.
“It’s not just the flow that’s of concern,” said Grand River Conservation Authority spokesperson Cam Linwood. “We’re seeing large trees that have been picked up and moved downstream.”
More than 100 millimetres of rain fell Friday morning, resulting in dangerously high and fast-flowing water in the watershed.
Flood watches remained in effect Sunday for communities throughout Waterloo Region, while Cambridge was still under a flood warning.
More rain fell on Sunday, but the brief bursts were not a big concern for the conservation authority, unlike Friday’s rain that was heavy, widespread and unexpected.
“It’s really localized,” Linwood said of the Sunday showers.
On Saturday, officials were keeping a close watch in Cambridge as the Grand River continued to rise in the morning before peaking around noon.
Flooding led to the closure of a couple of Cambridge roadways on Saturday morning, including Highway 24 between Concession Street and Meyers Road and Blair Road between George Street and Langdon Hall.
Blair reopened to traffic on Saturday afternoon as the waters receded, and Highway 24 on Sunday morning.
Flows on the Grand River through Cambridge peaked near noon Saturday at about 900 cubic metres per second, compared to the typical summer flow of 15. On Sunday morning, flows remained above 400.
Early Saturday, Kitchener and Cambridge fire crews helped remove 25 people and five pets from the camping area at Pioneer Sportsman Club in Kitchener. They were called at 2 a.m. to the Pioneer Road camping park as the water level was rising quickly.
Everyone was safely removed, but there was no time to remove the trailers. The extent of the damage won’t be known until the water recedes and it’s safe to go into the park.
Bingemans was advised Friday to evacuate trailers in lower lying areas.
A joint advisory was put out Friday evening by Waterloo Regional Police, along with the conservation authority, Region of Waterloo and Township of Woolwich urging residents and motorists to stay away from highrising water bodies after the area received a near recordbreaking amount of rain.
“Using the Grand River for recreational use is extremely dangerous at this time,” said police chief Bryan Larkin. “For safety reasons, we are asking people to stay away from rivers and flooded areas. We don’t want anyone to put themselves, or others, at risk.”