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Slow Melt Continues

Changing seasons means changing habits around waterways.

WOODSTOCK -- Officials with The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority say a relatively cool and dry spring so far has produced some melting of the snow-pack over the past several days. 

This week's warm daytime temperatures of near 10 degrees Celsius are causing water levels to rise above where they've been for the last several days.  

Though officials say serious flooding isn't anticipated -- they're reminding local residents to use extreme caution near all waterways -- calling any remaining ice cover unstable and dangerous.

"A snow survey taken Monday indicates that the southern portion of the Upper Thames River basin has an average of about 30-40 mm of water equivalent with 40-to-50 per cent coverage remaining.  In the north there is still mostly 100 per cent snow coverage, with an average water equivalent of 60-70 mm.  We expect most of this remaining snow to be melted by the end of the day on Tuesday," says Mark Helsten, Senior Water Resources Engineer at the UTRCA.

Local stream banks are still slippery, and water is still cold enough to give someone hypothermia within minutes or even seconds of falling in. People are also being asked to keep pets away from all watercourses as a result.

Flood control reservoirs at Fanshawe, Wildwood and Pittock are at seasonal levels, and will be operated to reduce the effects of flooding. UTRCA officials says they are monitoring the water situation and will report on any changing conditions as necessary.

For complete water level information or more info on the types of water bulletins which UTRCA provides, head to: www.thamesriver.on.ca  

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