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The Observer | Saturday, January 12, 2008
Ag Day marks Jan. 23 as national event for farmers................................... Âť14 The boom goes bust with thaw
Âť16 VOLUME 13, ISSUE 02
SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2008
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PRICELESS
BIG THAW Warm weather, melting snow and heavy rainfall saw the Grand River spill over, flooding portions of the West Montrose Family Camp Wednesday morning. See additional photos pages 8-9.
PHOTO | MARC MIQUEL HELSEN
Flooding widespread as winter disappears Grand River system besieged when heavy rains wash away all the snow in a matter of a few days MARC MIQUEL HELSEN Warm temperatures and heavy rains this week did more than bring outdoor winter activities to an abrupt halt: they also sparked rampant flooding, road closures and warnings from the Grand River Conservation Authority as it sought to limit the damage that
might be caused by swelling rivers and creeks. “It’s important to let people know that where these roads are flooded they should stay clear of them; they shouldn’t try to force their way through them because that does raise the potential for accidents,� said GRCA spokesman Dave Schultz Wednesday. While January thaws are not uncom-
mon, the sudden spike in temperatures – which saw all of the accumulated snow disappear in just three days – combined with December’s above-average snowfalls and recent heavy rainfalls (30 to 35 millimeters across the watershed overnight) created an excess amount of water. The GRCA consequently issued a number of flood warnings and started absorb-
ing water into its dams throughout the watershed. “The Shand dam and Conestogo dam are taking in tremendous amounts of water right now,� said Schultz. During midweek, for instance, the Shand dam near Fergus was taking in approximately 100 times the amount of water seen in summertime.
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