Municipal Infrastructure and Engineering Services staff were on scene this morning at 6:45 a.m. assessing conditions on the Thames River in West Kent.
Municipal officials say river levels measured at Pump Road indicate water levels have dropped 24″ in the last 24 hours, and 54″ since the high water mark recorded on Friday evening.
Dike conditions continue to improve due to the drop in the water level.
Dikes on the north side of the river are stable.
Two small areas of seepage are occurring on the south side near St. Peter’s Church but have slowed with the dropping water level.
Pump Road will remain closed due to ice conditions on road.
The mouth of the river at Lighthouse Cove is free of ice.
Open water is beginning to appear at the far east side of the ice jam near Prairie Siding Bridge.
However, the ice jam remains stationary extending 200 meters east of the mouth of the river through to Prairie Siding Bridge.
Railway officials are assessing the conditions of railway bed in the Jeannette’s Creek area as there are several large areas of seepage occurring adjacent to the flooded farmland.
The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority is monitoring the forecast to determine the potential impact of the forecasted rain will have on the situation early tomorrow morning.
The public is being asked to avoid roads in the area. Emergency officials remain on standby.
The Municipality would like to thank all employees and contractors who have worked around the clock to manage this emergency.
The localized state of emergency enacted Friday will remain in place until the situation has fully stabilized.
Residents with questions can call the municipality’s main phone number at 519-360-1998.
For updates from the LTVCA, click here.
