Homes near Ottawa’s Central Experimental Farm ‘significantly impacted’ by flooding

Rising water levels at the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa on Sunday. (Sarah Porter/submitted)

Homeowners are cleaning up several properties near Ottawa’s Central Experimental Farm that were “significantly impacted” by flooding following a weekend of mild temperatures and heavy rain.

At least five homes on Kingston Avenue suffered flood damage due to high water levels in the Carlington neighbourhood Sunday night. The northbound lanes of Fisher Avenue were closed between Baseline Road and Trent Street for several hours due to flooding, and several roads were also closed in Ottawa’s west end due to flooding.

“The combination of melting snow from the warm weekend temperatures and additional rainfall led to a significant accumulation of water in certain areas yesterday,” Jim Lethbridge, area manager of Public Works Emergency Planning and Response, said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa. “Road closures are being lifted as water recedes and roads become passable in affected areas of the city.”

The Ottawa Fire Services says it received a call from a resident at 7:30 p.m. reporting two feet of water in the basement of their home on Kingston Avenue.

Firefighters helped the owners of five homes pump water out of their basements.

“Firefighters shut off the power and the gas to multiple homes that were flooded,” Ottawa fire said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa. “The sump pumps and tarps were used to divert the water away from the homes and Firefighters removed the lids on several sewers to help mitigate the flooding.”

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Coun. Riley Brockington said on social media that there was “significant water flow” from the Central Experimental Farm.

“Some properties/houses on Kingston Ave. and Fisher have been significantly impacted. Emergency Services is on site,” Brockington said.

CTV News Ottawa video shows water covering Kingston Avenue Sunday night due to the flooding.

Resident Sarah Porter shared photos with CTV News of flooding in the basement of her Kingston Avenue home. Five inches of water was in the basement of the home Sunday evening.

Another photo showed high water levels in the fields of the Central Experimental Farm.

The water had receded from Kingston Avenue and the homes by Monday morning.

Donald B. Munro was also closed between Craig’s Side Road and Farmland Avenue Sunday evening due to flooding.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), which manages the Central Experimental Farm, said it has determined the flooding was likely due to melting snow and rain and not construction.

“Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has thoroughly assessed the site and determined that the excessive water accumulation is likely due to the recent flash thaw and rainfall. The ground remains frozen, preventing proper water absorption, which has led to pooling and flooding,” AAFC said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa. “After consulting with Public Services and Procurement Canada and the contractor currently working on a nearby drainage system replacement, we have confirmed that the ongoing construction activities have not contributed to nor exacerbated the flooding. Once the project is completed, we are optimistic that situations like this in the future would be limited and a rarer occurrence.”

Ottawa experienced above-seasonal temperatures and heavy rain on Saturday and Sunday, with 13.5 mm of rain on Sunday.

The temperature warmed up to 14.9 C on Saturday, the warmest March 15 in Ottawa. Environment Canada reported a temperature of 16.3 C on Sunday, the warmest March 16 in Ottawa since records began in 1872.

Lethbridge says the heavy rainfall “further intensifying the rate of snowmelt and adding to the volume of overland water flow” in Ottawa.

Residents are being encouraged to check that sump pumps are functioning properly and inspect the exterior of your home to ensure proper drainage away from the foundation.