According to the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board, due to continued rainfall and snow melt this weekend, the water level in the Ottawa River is set to surpass those seen in the May 2017 floods, in some cases by more than 70 cm.
“All areas along the Ottawa River that were impacted in 2017, and possible additional areas, are at risk,” said the board in a release. “Reservoirs throughout the basin are being used to store runoff and minimize flooding as much as possible.”
WATCH: Homes along Ottawa River left flooded
According to the board, the river will surpass levels seen in 2017 at every measurement point except Maniwaki where the water levels will be highest. Mattawa will experience the largest discrepancy by a margin of 74 cm.
On Thursday, the City of Ottawa declared a state of emergency due to the forecasted rain for the weekend which will push the levels past the 2017 amounts.
This means the mayor has called on the province for assistance which in turn calls upon the federal government for aid such as the military.
Mayor Watson has asked for around 400 Canadian Armed Forces personnel to help with flooding measures and hopes they will be here by Friday. According to Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale they have yet to determine how the troops will be divided up among the communities affected.
Premier Doug Ford is set to visit the affected areas in Constance Bay on Friday morning.