When Waters Rise in Nature
Has flooding impacted your experience in nature? What should you be on the lookout for?
Floods are some of the most frequent hazards across Canada and in Durham Region. Although they most often occur around lakes, rivers, and streams, other conditions like heavy rainfall or infrastructure damage can result in flooding. In addition, climate change is bringing wetter and wilder weather to Durham Region, resulting in uncertain, unstable, and more extreme flooding conditions.
Many of the Region’s residents enjoy the outdoors for a variety of benefits, including physical, emotional, social, and cultural well-being. However, local green spaces near bodies of water, such as parks, outdoor fields, recreation areas, and hiking trails, also store water in times of extreme rainfall, or simply experience intense downpours and water rises. This water storage purpose can impact your use of that green space.
If You See Flooding in Nature
Everyone has a role to play when it comes to staying safe from a flood. If you are frequently outdoors, you may observe flooding before many others! When planning to spend time outdoors, always prepare and check the following, especially if you will be near rivers or bodies of water:
- Weather forecasts and alerts, including Environment and Climate Change Canada issued Special Weather Statements, Weather Watches, and Weather Warnings. These will give you information about conditions that could cause concern.
- Yellow, Orange, or Red flood messages from your local Conservation Area about watershed conditions. These will let you know how likely flooding will occur, and things to look out for depending on the time of year.
Other safety tips for spending time outdoors:
- Stay away from river banks in winter and spring.
- Avoid recreational activities in and around watercourses during storm events.
- If you see flooding, leave the area and report flooding to your local Conservation Authority.
- If you, your family, or anyone else is in danger, call 9-1-1 immediately.
