By Chad Ingram

Parks Canada is holding back water atthe Horseshoe Lake dam on Thursday April 24 to allow Mindenresidents time to assess and protect their properties as the GullRiver continues to flood.

“These temporary operations are fortoday only and are intended to allow property owners additional timeto assess their situation as more precipitation is forecasted andwater levels will rise due to the movement of water through the GullRiver system” reads a press release from the Township of MindenHills. “Property owners impacted by high water levels are stronglyencouraged to begin/continue sandbagging efforts and to implementadditional measures to protect their personal

safety and property (check sump pumpsraise personal items off of the floor purchase bottled water etc.).”

Sandbags are available at the S.G.Nesbitt Memorial Arena the sand dome at 4564 County Road 121 nearKinmount and at Furnace Falls Park off County Road 503. Residentscan find updated flood information on the township's websiteat www.mindenhills.ca or by calling the township office at 705-286-1260 ext. 211 orasking for Paula Stamp. After hours call 1-866-856-3247.

The Township of Minden Hills declared astate of emergency due to flooding on April 24. It is the third suchstate of emergency the township has declared since the spring of 2013.

Water from more than 25 reservoir andflow-through lakes in Haliburton County that are part of the feeder systemfor the Trent Severn Waterway flows through the channel of the GullRiver through downtown Minden.