Water levels are expected to start stabilizing along the Ottawa River today and Tuesday, as rising water levels threaten dozens of properties in Ottawa, Gatineau and across eastern Ontario.
In Gatineau, 164 buildings are at risk of flooding from high water levels from the Ottawa River and Gatineau River.
The Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board said on Sunday that water levels and flows continue to rise at all locations along the Ottawa River due to the recent rainfall and “snowmelt from the unregulated portion of the basin flow into the river.”
“Minor flood levels have been exceeded in most flood-prone areas along the Ottawa River from Pembroke down to Carillon,” the planning board said on Sunday.
“Major flood levels from Lake Coulonge to Carillon have been exceeded or are expected to be exceeded (Monday) or Tuesday.”
A flood warning remains in effect along the Ottawa River between Pembroke and Arnprior, while a flood watch continues for the Ottawa River between Arnprior and Hawkesbury.
“Levels should continue increasing over the next few days in all locations and start stabilizing on Monday,” the planning board said.
“Over the next two weeks, levels are expected to plateau or slowly decline depending on weather. Risk of further increase in levels over coming weeks is higher from Mattawa to Lake Coulonge given the high snowpack remaining in the northern part of the basin.”
According to the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board, water levels were expected to rise 10 cm at Lake Deschenes at Britannia between Sunday and Monday and increase another five centimetres on Tuesday before stabilizing. The river is expected to increase 25 cm at the Hull Marina between Sunday and Monday and increase another 10 centimetres on Tuesday before stabilizing.
City of Gatineau
Officials in Gatineau warn 41 roads will be affected by flood waters and 164 buildings are at risk as water levels continue to rise along the Ottawa River.
“Forecasts are overall higher than those for 2025, but lower than those for 2023,” the city said on Sunday.
“Water levels may start stabilizing on Tuesday but are expected to remain high for several days.”
Speaking with Newstalk 580 CFRA on Monday, Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette said municipal officials are keeping an eye on water levels.
“It’s very hard to expect exactly what’s going to happen. What we see now is that water levels may start stabilizing Tuesday. They are expected to remain high for several days ... above two weeks,” Marquis-Bissonnette told Newstalk 580 CFRA’s Ottawa at Work with Patricia Boal.
The mayor said there are “few parts” of streets along the Ottawa River that are experiencing flooding.
Marquis-Bissonnette said officials and residents are hoping the cooler, drier weather Gatineau is experiencing today to continue this week.
“It certainly has an impact on the level of water,” the mayor said.
“So, we cross our fingers for the weather this week to look mook mostly like today.”
Several roads are being monitored for potential flooding, including:
- rue Adélard
- rue Blais
- rue Corriveau
- rue de Versailles
- rue des Montgolfières
- rue du Prince-Albert
- rue Ernest-Charron
- rue Glaude
- rue Jacques-Cartier
- rue Moreau
- rue Oscar
- rue René
- rue Riviera
- rue Sabourin
- rue Saint-François-Xavier
- rue Saint-Louis
- rue Saint-Patrice
Sandbags are available 24 hours a day at the following locations:
- Parc Louis-Roy (5 rue Louis-Roy, Aylmer)
- Parc du Lac-Beauchamp (745 boul. Maloney-Est, Gatineau)
- Parc Jack-Eyamie (40 rue du Bassin, Masson-Angers)
- Parking lot of Saint-Jean-de-Brébeouf Community Centre (70 rue Moreau, Gatineau)
The Ottawa River has increased one and a half metres at the Hull Marina since April 12.
Flooding in Ottawa
Water levels continued to rise along the Ottawa River through Ottawa over the weekend.
Coun. Clarke Kelly said this weekend that water levels have surpassed 2025 levels in the West Carleton area and are expected to reach “somewhere between 2025 and 2023 by the end of the weekend.”
At Lake Deschenes at Britannia, the Ottawa River has increased nearly a metre since April 12, and water levels jumped 46 cm between Thursday and Sunday.
The city has set up sandbag depots at the following locations.
- 1125 Tweddle Road
- Leo Lane at East Shore Road
- Armstrong Road between Boise Lane and Phillip Road
- 262 Len Purcell Drive (Constance Bay Community Centre)
- Greenland Road at Armitage Avenue
- 128 Moorhead Drive
- Lighthouse Lane at Loggers Way
- 2145 Roger Stevens Drive
- 4127 John Shaw Road
- Barry Mullen Park parking lot at Grandview Road
- End of Jamieson Street
- End of Rowatt Street
- Belltown Dome, 2915 Haughton Avenue
- 29 Hurdman Road
- 911 Industrial Avenue
Several roads in Ottawa are closed due to water pooling and flood control, including roads near Petrie Island.
- Tweddle Road at the marina
- Boisé Lane
- Willola Beach Road at Canon Smith Drive - local traffic only
- Allbirch Road at MacMillan Lane - local traffic only
- Sandbay Street boat launch
- Blair Road boat launch
- Ritchie Street boat launch
- Ray Wilson Road between York’s Corners Road and Gregoire Road
National Capital Commission pathways
Rising water levels along the Ottawa River have forced the National Capital Commission to close pathways.
The Ottawa River Pathway behind Parliament Hill flooded over the weekend and is closed to pedestrians, cyclists and runners.
Here is a look at the pathway closures in Ottawa and Gatineau.
- Sir George-Étienne Cartier lower multi-use pathway, between the NCC River House and the Blair Road boat launch
- Ottawa River Pathway, near New Orchard Avenue
- Ottawa River Pathway, east of Champlain Bridge
- Ottawa River Pathway, west of Westboro Beach
- Voyageurs Pathway, under the Champlain Bridge
- Voyageurs Pathway, near the Leamy Lake Parkway
- Gatineau River Pathway, under the Lady Aberdeen Bridge
- Leamy Lake Pathway, near the picnic area at Leamy Lake Park
- Leamy Lake Pathway, under Fournier Boulevard
- The picnic area at Leamy Lake Park
Fort Colounge
Fort Coulonge in the Pontiac region of western Quebec has declared a state of emergency due to flooding along the Ottawa River.
The Red Bridge is closed until further notice, while the White Bridge remains under surveillance due to rising water levels.
Officials are asking people to reduce drinking water consumption “until the end of the flood, to keep the water treatment plant in good working order.”
Fort Coulonge is located 118 km west from downtown Ottawa.
Flooding in Clarence-Rockland
Roads, parkland and some properties along the Ottawa River have been flooded in Clarence-Rockland, east of Ottawa.
The City of Clarence-Rockland said on Sunday that “water levels are still rising.”
“In some areas, flooded roads could limit access, and a small number of properties may see water approaching homes,” officials said.
Arnprior
In Arnprior, Riverside Drive is closed between Lena Street and McLean Street due to flooding, according to municipal officials.
A sandbagging station has been established in the Diamond 1 parking lot of McLean Park.
Mississippi River/Lower Ottawa River
A flood watch remains in effect for both the Mississippi River and the Lower Ottawa River.
The Mississippi River Conservation Authority issued a flood watch for the Mississippi River Watershed last week due to rising water levels and recent rainfall.
“Conditions are elevated right now, and we are experiencing some flooding conditions, but typically only in our flood prone areas,” Kathryn Starratt, a water resources specialist with the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, told CTV Your Morning Ottawa.
Starratt said the upper lakes on the Mississippi River are in “seasonal flooding conditions.”
“We are expecting conditions to become further elevated this week. Levels to rise a little bit, but again, just mainly in those flood prone areas,” she said.
“We’re expecting those levels to recede, and then hopefully the river shortly thereafter, but still to go up this week.”
Starratt said the break in rain this week could allow water levels on the Mississippi River to “recede in the next couple of weeks.”
In an update on Monday morning, officials said the water levels and flows are elevated across the watershed.
“Upper lakes, including Mazinaw, Kashwakamak, Big Gull, Mississagagon, Little Marble, and Marble, remain in seasonal flood conditions. Water levels have peaked and are expected to begin gradually receding this week,” the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority said in a statement.
“Along the Mississippi River, water levels and flows are expected to continue rising as water moves through the system. Flood-prone areas, such as Dalhousie Lake and Mississippi Lake, may experience elevated water levels consistent with seasonal conditions.”
Carp River
Water levels and flows have returned to “normal seasonal ranges” along the Carp River, according to the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority.
“Water levels and flows have returned to normal seasonal ranges,” the authority said on Monday.
“While additional rainfall may cause some increases, flooding conditions are not expected at this time.”
