Higher water levels in Sudbury area raises flooding concerns

Some lakes and rivers in the Sudbury area are higher than normal for this time of year. And if the wet weather holds, the local conservation authority says homeowners could see even higher levels in the spring.

Lakes such as Frood, south of Espanola, and Panache, in Sudbury, are 10-12 cm higher than at this time last year the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry reports.

Maskionage Lake north of Sudbury is 50 cm higher.

The Nickel District Conservation Authority’s Paul Sajatovic says twice the average rainfall fell last month, and the ground is saturated like a wet sponge.

People, especially children, need to stay away from high, fast running water this time of year, he cautioned.

“Hopefully [the] fall will be a little more calm and serene, maybe a little more pleasant. But time will tell, right?”

Sajatovic said there is potential for the saturated ground to freeze and accumulate snow on top. Once the spring rains and warmer temperatures hit, there could be an incredible run-off with the potential for flooding.

Good news for fish

On the bright side of the situation, high water right now may give trout, whitefish and salmon more access to good spawning grounds, said the MNR's regional specialist Heather Pridham.

“Higher water levels in the fall, and winter, may allow for better survival of the deposited eggs and emergence of offspring in the following year, but there are other variables that factor into play there,” she said.

“They're getting into areas where they might not normally be able to spawn, and the water levels are higher so the eggs are a little more protected.”