We thought there was a lot of water last week, but the water levels have done nothing but rise. The entire length of the railway is flooded, and is quite deep at the south gate path. The mast area is completely flooded, and the lake is close to breaching the sea wall in a few places.
For now, we have been able to get the water out of the clubhouse by piling sandbags all around it, and pumping the water out from under the clubhouse. If the lake breaches the seawall, this will no longer be an option. The flow of water has caused erosion and collapse of patio stones in a couple of areas in front of the clubhouse.
It is no longer possible to get around the club without tall rubber boots. There are a few areas of higher land, but they are surrounded by water. It's all really very overwhelming. It gives us a new appreciation of the news footage we see of flood areas.
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| Sandbagging |
We didn't get a lot of snow this winter, and there was some thought that the water levels might be low this year. What we've actually got, is unusually high water in Lake Ontario - at least 70 cm higher than normal, and expected to rise until early June. We've had a fair bit of rain, and in an effort to keep Montreal from completely flooding, the organization which manages water levels on the Great Lakes, has been unable to release more water through the St. Lawrence.
This weekend, when we are normally getting the club looking its best for Sailpast, we were filling sandbags trying to limit the impact of wave action on the clubhouse. Because the island is all sand, and the water table is high, even if we keep the water from coming over the retaining wall, it still comes up from the ground.
We experience a weird ebb and flow of the water, which is really evident in front of the clubhouse. Every 20 - 30 minutes, we go from having lots or dry areas, to ankle deep in water. We tried to limit this by putting sandbags across the dinghy ramp, but there are enough gaps in the sea wall that the water still flows in and out.
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| Louise |
The launch ramp is another huge low spot, where the water comes rushing into the yard. When the water is coming in, some areas behind the dinghy shed (where our locker is) are a foot or more under water. Louise even got her kayak out, and paddled up the railway towards the winch house.
For now, we have been able to get the water out of the clubhouse by piling sandbags all around it, and pumping the water out from under the clubhouse. If the lake breaches the seawall, this will no longer be an option. The flow of water has caused erosion and collapse of patio stones in a couple of areas in front of the clubhouse. 
