With water levels climbing, Montreal steps up readiness for spring flooding

With water levels on the rise, Montreal stepped up its flood response readiness and the sandbags are out.

With water levels expected to rise to their highest point this spring, the City of Montreal says it is ready to act should the situation worsen.

At a press conference near the Rivière-des-Prairies in the Bordeaux–Cartierville district, Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada told reporters that everything was ready on the ground.

“The deliveries of sandbags and pumps have been made,” she said.

Parts of the city experienced major flooding in 2017 and 2019.

On Wednesday, the agglomeration of Montreal activated its Special Intervention Plan.

As of Friday morning, the Outaouais River at Carillon was carrying 6,100 cubic metres of water — more than two Olympic-sized swimming pools — every second.

The Rivière des Prairies at the Cheval Blanc rapids was flowing at 2,400 cubic metres per second.

Both rivers are rising, and the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board says it expects the Outaouais River to reach 7,050 cubic metres per second by April 18.

City officials say that because of rising water levels, they are monitoring any encampments along the riverbanks to provide support if needed.

An encampment with two unhoused people in Ahuntsic–Cartierville was already relocated to a safe area on March 15, according to the city.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for Sunday, warning that 15 to 25 millimetres of rain could fall at a time when water levels are high and the ground is saturated.

The province’s flood monitoring website said that as of 1 p.m. ET there was one medium flood, at the Ouareau river north of Montreal, as well as 20 minor floods and 19 spots under surveillance.

Laval indicated that minor flooding had started, while Gatineau estimated that 33 roads and 119 buildings were at risk of flooding.

Martinez Ferrada stressed the need to remain vigilant, particularly with the situation “upstream,” notably in the Outaouais region.

“We’re going to keep an eye on runoff that could flow down and raise water levels in rivers [in the Montreal region],” the mayor said.

Martinez Ferrada noted that certain roads and bridges could be closed depending on how the situation develops.

For example, access to the bridge leading to Île Mercier in Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève could be restricted.

“We’ll see by Sunday whether we need to close it, but we’re not at that stage yet,” she said.

Water rescue teams are on standby to assist residents of Île Mercier, should the bridge be closed.

Areas at risk of flooding include Ahuntsic–Cartierville, Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève, Montréal-Nord, Pierrefonds-Roxboro, Pointe-Claire, Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and Senneville.

In Pierrefonds–Roxboro, the city says dikes have been installed in the following areas:

• Boulogne Street
• Château-Pierrefonds Avenue
• Dauville Street (boat launch)
• Bouchard Street

Pumps, inflatable plugs and outfall management have been or will soon be installed in the following areas:

• Gratton Street
• Jolicoeur Street
• Coursol Street
• Marina Centre (cofferdams)
• de la Rive-Boisée Road (valve closure to come)
• Pierrefonds filtration plant (upcoming)
• Pont de l’Île-Bizard

In Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève, dikes have been or will soon be installed in the following areas:

• Terrasse-Sacré-Cœur Park
• Jean-Yves Street

Pumps and inflatable plugs have been installed in the following areas:

• Terrasse-Sacré-Cœur Park

Upcoming valve closure:

• Pont Jacques-Bizard

In Ahuntsic–Cartierville, dikes have been installed in the following area:

• Notre-Dame-des-Anges Street

In Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and Senneville, officials are preparing for potential mitigation measures.

With files from CTV News’ Olivia O’Malley and The Canadian Press