Flood Criticism Is Valid - Iron Bridge, 1979

To the editor - May 5, 1979

Flood criticism is valid

Iron Bridge is suffering from one of the worst floods in its history. In the April 30 edition of The Sault Star, a number of Iron Bridge residents were critical of the ministry of natural resources because two of their dams burst on the White River and affected the flow into the Mississagi River. This criticism is quite valid.

If the ministry of natural resources is going to control the levels of lakes with dams, they should make sure they are sufficiently maintained and strong enough to withstand spring run-off conditions.

This criticism should also be extended to Ontario Hydro as well. Ontario Hydro controls a much greater watershed than the ministry of natural resources with four hydro dams and reservoir lakes on the Mississagi River and additional storage lakes.

Ontario Hydro did not let off sufficient spring run-off in the month previous to

this flooding in Iron Bridge. It is quite obvious that Ontario Hydro did not allow for the three inches of rain we had last week nor for any additional water from the White River.

I contend that the flooding affecting Iron Bridge and the Eastman subdivision in Blind River is primarily the responsibility of Ontario Hydro.

What monitoring program does Ontario Hydro have to calculate the amount of spring run-off? If Ontario Hydro monitors the spring run-off, then they sure goofed this year. What margin do they allow for spring rains in their storage reservoirs? What monitoring does Ontario Hydro have on ministry of natural resources dams?

In 1971, Ontario Hydro emptied Red Rock storage reservoir because of the fear that the ministry of natural resources dam at White Lake was going to break. This caused flooding in Iron Bridge. What did Ontario Hydro do to prevent a similar situation? Absolutely nothing — eight years later residents in Iron Bridge and Blind River are suffering from the negligence of Ontario Hydro.

Ontario Hydro should provide compensation to residents of Iron Bridge and Blind River for flood damages. This flood could have been prevented or at least the effect could have been lessened.

Are Ontario Hydro and the ministry of natural resources going to learn anything from the suffering of the flood victims or are we going to have another flood in eight years because these two government agencies failed to learn anything from the last flood?

An additional point to be considered is that in this area we have had one of the most ideal weather conditions for spring run-off. We have had three thaws with three freeze-ups to slow down the run-off during each thaw.

T. Grywinski

Iron Bridge

Iron Bridge is suffering from one of the worst floods in its history. In the April 30 edition of The Sault Star, a number of Iron Bridge residents were critical of the ministry of natural resources because two of their dams burst on the White River and affected the flow into the Mississagi River. This criticism is quite valid.

If the ministry of natural resources is going to control the levels of lakes with dams, they should make sure they are sufficiently maintained and strong enough to withstand spring run-off conditions.

This criticism should also be extended to Ontario Hydro as well. Ontario Hydro controls a much greater watershed than the ministry of natural resources with four hydro dams and reservoir lakes on the Mississagi River and additional storage lakes.

Ontario Hydro did not let off sufficient spring run-off in the month previous to

this flooding in Iron Bridge. It is quite obvious that Ontario Hydro did not allow for the three inches of rain we had last week nor for any additional water from the White River.

I contend that the flooding affecting Iron Bridge and the Eastman subdivision in Blind River is primarily the responsibility of Ontario Hydro.

What monitoring program does Ontario Hydro have to calculate the amount of spring run-off? If Ontario Hydro monitors the spring run-off, then they sure goofed this year. What margin do they allow for spring rains in their storage reservoirs? What monitoring does Ontario Hydro have on ministry of natural resources dams?

In 1971, Ontario Hydro emptied Red Rock storage reservoir because of the fear that the ministry of natural resources dam at White Lake was going to break. This caused flooding in Iron Bridge. What did Ontario Hydro do to prevent a similar situation? Absolutely nothing — eight years later residents in Iron Bridge and Blind River are suffering from the negligence of Ontario Hydro.

Ontario Hydro should provide compensation to residents of Iron Bridge and Blind River for flood damages. This flood could have been prevented or at least the effect could have been lessened.

Are Ontario Hydro and the ministry of natural resources going to learn anything from the suffering of the flood victims or are we going to have another flood in eight years because these two government agencies failed to learn anything from the last flood?

An additional point to be considered is that in this area we have had one of the most ideal weather conditions for spring run-off. We have had three thaws with three freeze-ups to slow down the run-off during each thaw.

T. Grywinski

Iron Bridge