GRAND RIVER FLOODING IN WEST MONTROSE & MORE

I'm of two minds as I post this article. I lived for nearly a decade in West Montrose and the Grand River was rarely far from my mind. The people interviewed in the Waterloo Region Record's article were my neighbours and they are good people. The title of the Record article was "GRCA to update warning maps in wake of June flooding".

The GRCA (Dwight Boyd) is quoted as saying "We are at the mercy of the weather". Clare Gingrich of West Montrose stated "If the dam level is high, you really can't help us much". Tony Dowling who has done so much for the West Montrose community and further afield with his involvement in Gravel Watch Ontario stated "Unexpected weather events does not vindicate the GRCA". I would suggest that both Clare Gingrich and Dwight Boyd are 100% accurate in their comments. Sorry Tony but I hope you can handle only a 95% score on your quote. If Tony had added one word to his statement namely "absolutely" as in "unexpected weather events does not (absolutely) vindicate the GRCA" then a 100% score would be appropriate.

I'm not trying to nitpick here. Yes there were some communication problems. It appears as if that is being acknowledged by both Woolwich Township folks as well as by the GRCA. Hence while an unexpected weather event does not absolutely vindicate the GRCA I would suggest that it also does not absolutely condemn them. Expecting dams to be capable of both providing low flow augmentation along with recreational activities to sailing clubs on both Belwood and Conestoga Lake while simultaneously providing flood protection by having reservoir capacity available at ALL times seems highly improbable. The GRCA are at the mercy of both weather and timing. There is a period of time when they probably need every ounce of water they can hold back in order to lengthen the boating season for their leased cottage holders, sailing clubs and swimmers. It's a pretty difficult balancing act. They get it right 99% of the time but boy that 1% that recently occurred can be horrific for downstream home owners. Hence communications do need to be 100% spot on.