Kitchener-Waterloo

Flood response public meeting with GRCA set for Woolwich Township

The Grand River Conservation Authority and Woolwich Township will hold a public meeting in West Montrose on July 24 to discuss future improvements following the flood that inundated the area in late June.

Public meeting will cover how flood unfolded, data collected and suggestions for future improvements

The warm weather expected this weekend has prompted GRCA to issue a flood warning for parts of the Grand River watershed and a flood watch for the entire watershed. (Jackie Sharkey/ CBC News)

Officials from the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) and Woolwich Township will hold a public meeting on July 24 in West Montrose to discuss future improvements as a result of the flood that inundated the area on June 23.

The public meeting comes after GRCA met with town officials and the Waterloo Regional Police on June 29.

West Montrose was significantly affected by the flood and many residents voiced concerns over limited notifications and warnings.

"That kind of concern was echoed from a number of communities upstream," Cam Linwood, spokesperson for GRCA told CBC News.

"It caught a lot of people off guard."

Move the slider to see the difference a few days made in June, 2017.

The meeting will start with a presentation by GRCA, which will cover how June's flood unfolded and what data GRCA collected as a result.

Linwood said the meeting will also look at using technology to better forecast floods and provide residents with advance notice.

Residents will also have a chance to provide feedback and speak with GRCA staff and town officials during the public meeting.

"We certainly want residents of West Montrose to be involved in this process," said Linwood.

"We really [want] their feedback to get a sense of how they feel about the additional forecast we will be able to provide and see if that would be effective for them in the future."

The meeting will take place at West Montrose United Church on July 24 between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.