LSRCA: Water levels declining, flooding risk still ‘significant’

A flooded road sign in Muskoka PHOTO: CTV NEWS BARRIE (Mike Lang)

The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) warns the risk of shoreline hazards remain high, due to Lake Simcoe reportedly being 22 centimetres above its normal water level for this time of year.

The LSRCA says higher than average water levels are causing flooding in low-lying shoreline areas such as Innisfil, Georgina, Ramara, Barrie, and Orillia.

Currently, the lake’s water level is at 219.32 metres (m) according to the LSRCA, however that is lower than late April, when water levels were reportedly reached 219.40 m.

Despite the decrease in water levels, the risk for dock, boathouse and shoreline damage remains high, the conservation authority says, as does the risk of dike failures in the Keswick, Colbar and Bradford polders, potentially impacting agricultural lands.

“Please exercise extreme caution around all bodies of water. Please alert any children under your care to stay away from all watercourses and other bodies of water and supervise their activities,” the organization said in a release.

The LSRCA says the watershed received 2.2 millimetres (mm) over the last five days and expects an additional 12 mm over the weekend and an additional 10 mm in the following week.

The shoreline hazard watch rating of ‘high risk’ will be in effect until May 29 or until otherwise updated by the LSCRA.