Easy spring from early flood in Queens County?

Region of Queens Municipality Emergency Measures Coordinator, Brad Rowter said, “In Queens we had consecutive rainfalls, which amounted to the highest precipitation in the province. That, combined with the snow base melting, primarily ran off into the Medway River watershed basin, which is a huge area.”

The headwaters are the McGowan and Tupper Lake area, he said.

At about noon on Feb. 19 Nova Scotia Power Incorporated started pulling stop logs from its dam to release some of the rising water from McGowan Lake.

He said EMO, the power corporation, firefighters and the provincial government, including the Department of Transportation all worked together and were in constant contact to watch the effects as the surge in water made the trip through streams, lakes, rivers and finally to the ocean in southern Queens County.

Rowter praised North Queens Fire Association members in particular for monitoring residents and their homes. “They did a good job, as usual.”

The Department of Transportation closed, but later re-opened with a caution warning, Westfield Road at the Westfield River junction.

Medway River Road was also closed to throughway traffic although residents could get out in either direction.

Rowter said county residents might be lucky this year when the large flood of 2003 and a flood in 2005 are considered.

He explained the rainfall and melt were followed by good weather and cold temperatures, meaning some of the water froze again and no more was added.

“When the water is frozen, it can’t run off,” he explained.

In addition, much of the snowbase is now gone. Rowter added he obviously can’t predict the weather over the next month but that, considering how much precipitation has fallen, it might be a lucky year for residents.

“It’s better to have it at this point than in March. We just have fresh snow to deal with for the rest of the winter season.”

As of Feb. 21, the crest (the highest level of water) was making its way down to the Atlantic.

Charleston resident, Richard Anthony said he watched the waters rise three inches in only two hours on Feb. 21.

He said many in the area were surprised it was necessary to release water from the dam after work was completed on it nearly two years ago. He said it wasn’t necessary to sand bag and transportation wasn’t a problem.

Rowter said the various parties involved are continuing to monitor the situation. He said Nova Scotia Power Inc. plans to continue re-installing the stop logs in the dam as the water levels dictate.