PRESENTERS SPEAK ABOUT FLOOD FORECASTING AND WARNING – Presenting at the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) Annual Flood Emergency Planning Meeting in Exeter on February 24, 2025, were (from left to right in photo): Lina Florian, P.Eng., Watershed Engineer at Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA); James Bryant, P.Eng., ERCA Director of Watershed Management Services; Christie Brown, ABCA Water Resources Technologist; and Davin Heinbuck, ABCA General Manager and Secretary-Treasurer.
Presenters recount impacts of major flood events
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority hosted annual Flood Emergency Planning Meeting; Community Emergency Management Coordinators among 30 people in attendance for presentation, by ERCA engineers, on 2023 storm event
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) hosted its annual Flood Emergency Planning Meeting at the Exeter Legion on February 24, 2025. Guest speakers, from Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA), were James Bryant, P.Eng., Director of Watershed Management Services and Lina Florian, P.Eng., ERCA Watershed Engineer. They spoke about an Essex Region flood event that hit on August 23-25, 2023.
An external source originally classified the approaching rainstorm as ‘moderate,’ but based on existing wet ground conditions in the Essex Region watershed, combined with predicted rainfall amounts, ERCA issued a Flood Watch to alert municipalities.
“We took a proactive approach and issued a Flood Watch for our region,” Bryant said. The conservation authority later elevated the Flood Watch to a Flood Warning.
Significant moisture, pushing easterly, and originating from Hurricane Hilary, fueled the storm. “Hurricane Hilary was on the west coast of the U. S. and was tracking all the way (to Canada), hitting parts of Ontario and parts of Quebec,” Bryant said.
“Before the significant rainfall hit, we had a pre-wetting of 25-35 millimetres (mm) the day before so we had some wet, saturated ground conditions in our area,” he said. “It only takes about 30 millimetres of rain for our area to get pretty wet and saturated.” The watershed is generally very flat terrain, he said. There is also a high percentage of clay soils there. That provides less infiltration of water into the ground and leads to more stormwater runoff.
Over a 37-hour period, there was significant rainfall in the ERCA watershed, ranging from about four inches (100 mm) to more than eight inches (200 mm). The southern parts of Essex County were hit hardest by flooding, especially in the towns of Essex and Kingsville and the Township of Pelee (including Pelee Island).
The guest speakers showed photos from the storm event. Roadways looked like rivers in some cases. Water running off of land during the storm washed out roads (leading to road closures), blew out shoreline walls, created pavement instability, and damaged some farms, cottages and homes. Bryant said there were eroded properties, damaged structures, and “ … some pretty significant impacts, especially for these landowners.”
Some people were confined to their homes as roads were covered with water. There was risk to the public and there were negative financial impacts. The storm caused so much damage some houses needed to be torn down.
The effects of the rainstorm also had impacts on municipalities with damage to public infrastructure. There were sewer backups and the rainstorm affected some municipal wastewater treatment plants and sewage lagoons. In one case, flow was 14 times the daily average flow, resulting in raw sewage bypasses.
Conservation authority staff monitored before and during the storm and looked at rainfall Intensity, Duration, and Frequency (IDF) curves. They looked at field observations, of conditions, at a number of climate stations. They used data, from multiple sources, and modeling tools to delineate the approximate extent of flooding. ERCA applies regulations policies based on a one-in-100-year storm event. Looking at a slide on rainfall IDF curves for the storm, Florian said “ ... what’s most notable here is that the Harrow gauge had 80 millimetres (of rain) above the 100-year event (level).” (Harrow also had a major flood event in 1989).
The extensive flooding in August 2023 was test of preparedness for both the conservation authority and municipalities.
Following the storm event, ERCA took actions to improve readiness for future events. These actions have included flood kits; budgeting for increased engineering and field support required during and after a flooding event; and increased training for conservation authority and municipal staff.
More than 30 people attended the Flood Emergency Planning Meeting. They included Fire Chiefs, local public health, county and municipal representatives and Community Emergency Management Coordinators.
Also presenting at the meeting were Christie Brown, ABCA Water Resources Technologist, and Davin Heinbuck, ABCA General Manager and Secretary-Treasurer. They provided a winter-spring update on watershed conditions, with a low-moderate risk of flooding, and a presentation of flood emergency roles and responsibilities.
Learn more:
|
|
|
|
Meet Your Local Wetlands Experts at Ausable Bayfield Conservation
In the last issue of our newsletter, you met Wetlands Specialist Angela Van Niekerk.
In this issue, we introduce you to Healthy Watersheds Technician Benjamin Riggin, who also works to restore and enhance needed wetlands in our watershed.
Ben is originally from Kincardine and later worked in Saskatchewan as a research technician with Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC).
He was happy to return to the Lake Huron area, to work at Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA), in 2023.
“I have a deep love for Lake Huron,” he said. “As a young person, I was always at the beach, swimming, kayaking, or just exploring. That’s why conservation work is important to me.”
Ben attended Western University, where he graduated with a double major in Geography and History and later earned a Masters in Environment and Sustainability (MES).
Ben says he enjoys the variety of work he does at ABCA: “No two days are the same!”
“I enjoy working with the other staff at Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority,” he said. “They bring so much experience and passion to work that they do. I learn something new every day.”
If you are interested in creating wetlands and other stormwater management improvements on your property, you can reach Ben at 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610 or by email on our staff contacts web page.
ABCA staff provide technical expertise and, in many cases, they can link you to grant incentives to support your projects.
Thanks, Ben, for all the great work you do to build healthy watersheds and to protect and improve Lake Huron, from land to lake.
|
|
You are invited to Partner Appreciation Evening
Enhancing wetlands is theme for annual Partner Appreciation Evening at Ironwood Golf Club on Thursday, March 20, 2025
Ausable Bayfield Conservation will announce the Conservationist of the Year Award winner at the March 20 Partner Appreciation Evening.
There will also be years of service awards for Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) directors and staff.
It is free to attend the Partner Appreciation Evening but seating is limited and interested people must reserve a week ahead of the event.
There is a complimentary, light supper (cold cuts on a bun and salad, or similar) served.
To attend the event, please reply, to ABCA, by Thursday, March 13, 2025, for meal numbers. RSVP to Jackson Janmaat, Corporate Services Assistant. She can be reached by email or by phone at 519-235-2610, or toll-free 1-888-286-2610, extension 221.
Ironwood Golf Club is located at 70969 Morrison Line, two kilometres east of Exeter and south of Highway 83.
Watch for more details coming soon.
To find out more about the Partner Appreciation Evening visit the abca.ca website and the Conservation Award web page link.
|
|
50-50 Raffle Draw Tickets are available now
Support needed local projects and earn chance to win up to $5,000 with 50-50 ticket
The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation (ABCF) is selling 50-50 raffle draw tickets, leading up to the 35th Conservation Dinner on April 3, 2025.
The 50-50 tickets are in support of needed local community projects that could not happen otherwise.
There are 1,000 tickets printed and the cash prize could be as high as $5,000 if all tickets are sold. Tickets are $10 each.
Chris Keller, of the Exeter Lions Club, is Chair of the Conservation Dinner Committee.
“Buying a ticket for the 50-50 draw is a great way to show support for your community and to earn a chance to win a large cash prize,” he said.
The Conservation Dinner is a community fundraiser of the Conservation Foundation, the Exeter Lions Club, and the watershed community.
The 50-50 Raffle Draw is to be held during the 35th Conservation Dinner, on Thursday, April 3, 2024 at South Huron Recreation Centre in Exeter.
The draw takes place at 8 p.m.
People can buy their ticket from any Exeter Lions Club or Conservation Dinner Committee member. They can also contact Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation (at the office at 71108 Morrison Line, east of Exeter, just south of Highway 83) or by phone at 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610. Tickets must be sold in Ontario (Lottery Licence #M835225).
Net proceeds from the draw are donated to local community projects.
Learn more:
|
|
|
|
