Water levels, tree lines monitored
D’Youville Boulevard in Chateauguay was closed for days as the water level of the Chateauguay River rose so much that it spilled onto the roadway, due to the thaw of snow and ice. The ice on the river has since been cleared, and water has drained away from the now reopened street. Courtesy City of Chateauguay
High temperatures over the weekend caused a quick thaw this year, and with that came a quick increase in water levels in regional rivers.
That included the Chateauguay River, which overflowed onto D’Youville Boulevard between Principale Street and Girouard Street, just under 12 kilometers from the boundary line with Kahnawake.
That portion of the street was closed from March 8 until March 11, when the water had finally drained from the roadway. A temporary dyke was built by the city of Chateauguay along the river in that area, and the Canadian Coast Guard was brought in to clear ice on the river with the help of an amphibious excavator, a hovercraft commonly referred to as the “frog” for its green colour.
The clearing of ice can be necessary in thaw conditions, because ice can become blocked and form a wall, acting like a dam of sorts and raising water levels enough to potentially flood.
With the ice cleared away, emergency measures were declared over on March 11, but the river is still being monitored with the ice rain conditions that have now hit the region over the last few days.
Kenneth Canadian, a technician for the Kahnawake Environment Protection Office (KEPO) said that the same is true of the major creeks and waterways in Kahnawake.
While there was still a presence of ice in many waterways, the water was flowing well, he said, and there did not seem to be a risk at present of flooding.
“This time of year, the water always gets high. Sometimes it can look concerning, but it’s a common occurrence,” said Canadian.
“We’re used to being careful during these big rainfall events that can happen.”
If a blockage is created or noticed by a community member in the next few days, they should call Kahnawake Public Safety or KEPO, he said.
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“Err on the side of safety, that’s the main message,” said Canadian.
The main concern for KEPO as well as Public Safety will now be the potential ice buildup not in the waterways, but in trees and powerlines.
Although the ice rain episode was not as significant in the region as it could have been, the weather for the next few days predicts daytime lows around freezing, and nighttime lows almost double digits into the negatives.
“We all have that collective memory of 1998,” said Canadian, referring to the Ice Storm.
Kahnawake Public Safety and the Kahnawake Fire Brigade each released a statement on Tuesday, with things community members should do in case of power outages and to get ready for a storm.
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Those include checking sump pumps; having sources of water at your disposal; having a generator and using it outdoors only, far from doors and windows; avoiding the use of barbecues or camp stoves indoors; making sure fire alarm and carbon monoxide detectors are working; and using a vehicle’s USB ports to charge phones if needed.
