(North Bay, March 16, 2023) The annual ice removal on Parks Creek near Lakeshore Drive is set to begin Monday, March 20 and the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority is urging the public and snowmobilers to stay off the creek and away from the mouth of the creek on Lake Nipissing.
“The purpose of removing the ice is to allow spring runoff to flow unobstructed into Lake Nipissing and prevent flooding in the lower reaches of the creek” explains Chitra Gowda, CAO, Secretary Treasurer, NBMCA.
“Removal of ice between the flood control structure and Lake Nipissing will help minimize the risk of any property flooding or ice damage to the control structure” said Shelley Belanger, NBMCA Vice-Chair.
The Park Creek Backflood Control Structure located at Eva Wardlaw Conservation Area was installed in 1994/95 to prevent high water levels in Lake Nipissing from backing up Parks Creek and flooding its surrounding low lands causing basement flooding and overcharging the municipal storm sewer system for approximately 500 homes.
Each year NBMCA assesses the capacity of Parks Creek to absorb the spring melt and manages the flood control structure on the creek at Eva Wardlaw Conservation Area to ensure that people and property along the creek are safe from the risks associated with flooding.
Lakeshore Drive residents in the area should experience minimal disruption from the ice removal project. The NBMCA is not anticipating any disturbance to the creek bed and the ice will be piled on the banks of Parks Creek to slowly melt. The public is urged to stay away from the ice piles as they are removed.
NBMCA monitors the melting snowpack, precipitation, temperatures as well as water levels in area lakes and streams as part of Flood Forecasting and Warning Program. NBMCA advises municipalities, emergency responders and the public of any potential flooding or flood safety issues. Updates are posted on our website www.nbmca.ca and on social media.
The North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority (NBMCA) was founded in 1972 by the Province of Ontario and the NBMCA’s member municipalities. A non-profit organization, the NBMCA works closely with the public to balance human needs with the environmental needs of the region’s watershed. The NBMCA is one of 36 Conservation Authorities who are members of Conservation Ontario.
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Contact:
Adam Whyte, Acting Manager, Lands & Stewardship (705) 474-5420
Chitra Gowda, CAO, Secretary Treasurer (705) 474-5420