By Chad Ingram

Severe flooding in the county remains unlikely according to a water levels update from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

At press time the MNRF’s Bancroft District which includes Haliburton County remains under what the ministry refers to as a water safety advisory which “indicates that high flows melting ice or other factors could be dangerous for such users as boaters anglers and swimmers but flooding is not expected.”
“The impact of recent warm temperatures and rainfall has reduced the snowpack throughout Bancroft District but substantial snowpack with above average snow water content remains in the northern half of the district” reads a release from the ministry. “Above freezing temperatures and precipitation are likely to further degrade the snowpack.”

There are nearly 30 feeder and flow-through lakes throughout Haliburton County that are part of the feeder system for the Trent Severn Canal water levels adjusted through a series of dams. The water from those lakes drains through the channel of the Gull River through downtown Minden before making its way down the system.

Tips residents in flood-prone areas can keep in mind to protect their properties include installing and checking sump pumps; moving any important materials or documents out of basements; installing backflow valves or standpipes to prevent sewer lines from backing up; elevating appliances such as washers dryers and water heaters on concrete blocks or anchoring them and protecting them with a flood shield; and having a flood detection device installed in their basement.