For Immediate Release

Water Safety, Watershed Condition Statement for Residents of Catfish Creek Watershed
Issued on: October 15, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.
Issued by: Peter Dragunas, Water Management Technician
Catfish Creek Conservation Authority
(519) 773-9037

This is a Water Safety, Watershed Conditions Statement indicating that high water flows, unsafe banks or other factors are possible and could be dangerous for users such as anglers, boaters, swimmers, children or pets. Major flooding is not expected.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the St. Thomas/Aylmer area.

Significant rainfall is expected tonight through to Wednesday night. Showers and thunderstorms are forecast to begin late this evening or tonight and will continue through at least Wednesday night.  Rainfall amounts of 20 to 40 mm are expected by early Saturday morning with higher amounts (50mm) in areas that may receive thunderstorms.

Effective immediately, the Catfish Creek Conservation Authority is issuing a Water Safety, Watershed Conditions Statement for flood prone low-lying areas adjacent to watercourses within the Catfish Creek watershed and its tributaries.  At present stream flow and water levels are at average.  Some areas of the watershed may be close to water infiltration saturation.  Any additional significant volumes of precipitation may increase the volume of overland runoff, thereby allowing the Catfish Creek and its tributaries to increase flows unexpectedly and allowing the potential to keep water levels trending upward within the watershed for the duration of this storm. No major flooding is expected at this time.

Due to aforementioned adverse weather conditions there is a good potential for increased water flows resulting in unsafe channel bank conditions around waterways within the Catfish Creek watershed.  Anglers, boaters, children, pets and people intending to undertake any recreational activities around watercourses need to abstain from these areas during these conditions. The public is encouraged to exercise extreme caution around all creeks and waterways, and to keep children away from these hazardous areas during times of increased water flow.  Landowners are advised to check dams, culverts, and catch basins and make sure they are free from debris and functioning as intended during high water situations.

CCCA will continue to monitor watershed conditions and will issue updates and recommendations as necessary.  CCCA always recommends taking any necessary precautions to minimize the results of flood impacts of the Catfish Creek and its tributaries.

At present this Watershed Conditions Statement will expire on Monday October 18^th at 9:00 a.m.