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pilpll V -J y>v. "-a ? Sïll» ••••••.MXnV- " Ix , '<■<• -r^^rjg^s v W ,'v' - t iffiai) ?*@S ;'X<«w:->iï:-ÿ;:ï< ^.«%4 :^ÿïad±5?ÿx^! xTs 1 P gg3 gggg Fi&ÿSvwz»! î- :y x .âf WSpSI w***.pï :. :..... xwAwÆMWx-yxyA»-*.- . , v y,. • •.•>.";•'• ■■ w< .•x-*"<xwA - -.».«wi<v.vxvVxwÿ>^' •*• .•y/M'pV'î:'?<" > ' /■ /"ÿ/vAvM, ; .'. ■'. Ajîv«.WA".wvA , W/y>" , .• ■ f • y -• ; ÂC " Flood Advisory System The GRCA operates a flood warning and advisory system to closely monitor water levels, flows and weather conditions throughout the entire watershed. Conditions are monitored on a daily basis throughout the year to keep track of occurrences, trends and potential flooding problems. To assist with flood forecasting, data is collected from five remote stream gauges, four automated remote rain gauges, and a weather monitoring station located at the Ga- naraska Forest Centre near Elizabethville. The Authority also maintains and monitors dams at Garden Hill and Ball's Mill Conservation Area as well as five snow course sites located throughout the watershed. All data is reviewed on a daily basis via modems and stored on computer files at the Authority's main office in Port Hope. This system enables enables Authority staff to assess potential flooding problems in advance and provide timely timely and effective advisories to local municipal flood response co-ordinators and the general general public. Flood Waters Destroy Downtown Port Hope The Flood of 1980 The rainstorm which was to last 20 to 21 hours might be expected to occur only once in 50 years. Rainfall in excess of 52 millimetres (2 inches) fell with an intensity expected once every five years. Coupled with frozen ground conditions and depressions depressions already partly filled with snowmelt, very little of the rainfall soaked into the ground. It is estimated estimated that levels in the Ganaras- ka reached levels expected to occur once in 100 years. Over 24 hectares (60 acres) of central Port Hope were inundated by flood waters. On the evening of March 20th, the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority staff responded to existing conditions conditions by watching the dams at Garden Hill, Ball's Mill and Port Hope. As more rain was being received than forecasted, rain gauges were monitored. The forecast indicated indicated heavy rain tapering to showers later Friday. The flood monitoring and warning warning program was put into operation. By Friday afternoon afternoon it was still raining heavily. Four stream gauges and three rain gauges were Congratulations to The Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority on their 50th Anniversary of conserving the Ganaraska Region Put some energy into your plans today Lots of people have questions about nuclear power. Is it safe? What happens to the waste? How is electricity produced? You can find answers to these questions and others by visiting the Darlington Information Centre. It's FREE, informative, and lots of fun! The centre is located on site at the Darlington Nuclear Station. There's lots to do! - challenge computer games - tour the station - enjoy fascinating films - explore exciting exhibits Darlington Information Centre 905-623-7122 Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. being monitored continuously. continuously. Between 9:30 and 11:00 Friday morning, the river began rising at an unusually high rate. By 1:30 in the afternoon, afternoon, water levels exceeded exceeded historical discharge tables. A flood advisory had already been issued to town officials and the local radio station. Provincial flood advisories advisories for March 20 and 21 had been received. Monitoring Monitoring of stream gauges indicated indicated above normal spring runoff at the Osaca gauge. At 4:30 p.m. Friday the river reached a peak at the Osaca gauge. At Port Hope the peak came at approximately 7:30 p.m. and held for four hours. By 9:00 that evening, the water level was steady. Resultant damage could have been more extensive. However, with foresight based on knowledge of ice buildup conditions above Corbett's Dam in Port Hope, ice was cleared Thursday . night. In its aftermath, numerous numerous businesses were damaged. damaged. Seven private buildings buildings were declared unsafe. Three town bridges were closed. One building was a complete loss owing to water water and mud damage. Other buildings affected included a hotel, an appliance store, a clothing store, a department store, a gas station, an apartment apartment block and small speciality speciality stores. The foundation foundation of the historical fireball was gouged by river water and ice. On Ontario Street, the three-year old Sears Mail Order Office was torn apart by rushing waters. Stock as well as two walls were carried off. The Port Hope Fish Ladder, operated by the Ministry of Natural Resources, also was heavily damaged. On several streets, road damage was extensive. Slabs of pavement 1.8 metres metres (6 feel) long were carved from the main street. Parking meters had been bent over almost flat against the sidewalk. Iron side railings railings from the Walton Street bridge were torn away. On Mill Street a channel 3 metres metres (10 feel) wide and I metre metre (4 feel) deep had been carved by flood waters. High levels of both water and mud damaged basements basements throughout Port Hope and neighbouring centres. Extensive property, road and bridge damage was reported reported in nearby centres. Sixty families evacuated their homes in Cobourg. Water Water damaged some 400 homes as well as sections of road and sewers. In Newcastle Newcastle one bridge was completely completely undermined. Roads were closed by high water levels in both Newcastle and Orono areas. However by early Saturday, cleanup operations operations were well underway in local centres. In Port Hope, sandbagging crews had worked all Friday night in attempts to protect downtown downtown stores. Assistance from the town police and the roads and fire departments, the Ontario Provincial Police, Police, town staff, flood control control co-ordinators, Ministry of the Environment, clubs, industries and dozens of townspeople was received for cleanup operations. Although Although a number of businesses businesses reopened at the start of the following week, it took a number of months before before a semblance of normality normality was attained. On March 26, 1980 the Provincial Government declared declared the area a disaster area. The Port Hope Disaster Relief Fund was established. With impressive spirit, the townspeople have bounced back after this setback. Since the flood a series of meetings have been hdd to determine the extent of flood protection required for the town. Various flood levels levels including the 1980 flood have been considered. As a result, the Conservation Conservation Authority and the Town of Port Hope agree, in principle, principle, that improved flow capacity capacity of the Ganaraska River River is required. Further, the minimum flow to be accommodated accommodated is the March 21, 1980 peak flow of approximately approximately 425 cubic metres per second (15,000 cubic lcct per second). With ongoing negotiations, important steps forward in carrying out a flood control program have taken place.