Hydro Quebec believes Rouge River dam will hold, but is prepared for worst
Posted Apr 26, 2019 06:26:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A dam on the Rouge River might sustain some damage, but is expected to hold up, despite facing 1,000-year flood levels.
The 12 metre by 16 metre concrete dam was built back in 1915, and has been kept in good shape over the years, but is only built to withstand a water flow of 960 cubic metres per second.
Thursday and Friday has seen the water flow on the Rouge River jump to more than 1,000 cubic metres per second, and with more rain on the way, Hydro Quebec officials think it could get up to 1,300 cubic metres on the weekend.
Still, Spokesman for Hydro-Québec Francis Labbé believes the structure will hold up. He said he can imagine the dam might become weakened, but he doesn't think it will be breached.
Grenville-sur-la-Rouge Mayor Tom Arnold helped make sure 160 local homes were evacuated Thursday, just in case the dam were to give way.
His town is located across from Hawkesbury, east of Ottawa.
Arnold told 1310 NEWS' The Rick Gibbons Show most of those properties are summer camps, so only about 60 residents had to be moved, and most were able to stay with family. Other residents were directed to a community shelter in La Chute.
The Rouge River flows into the Ottawa River.
Listen to the full conversation with Arnold:
