I am writing with a brief update on the recent flooding event in the Black Walnut Trail area last Friday. At this point, there isn’t much new to say but I know affected residents are anxious to hear what has been going on over the weekend.
I have been advised that City staff has met on Friday, earlier today and will meet again tomorrow morning regarding this matter. The working team – made up of mostly engineers and water drainage experts in the City’s Transportation & Works department – will also meet tomorrow afternoon with the consultant who studied the flooding issues in Lisgar for the past number of years and I expect to get a report at my meeting with the team on Wednesday morning. I will provide another update in two or three days time when there is more to say.
On Friday and Saturday, I knocked on the doors of residents who experienced flooding to check in on them and the extent of their damage and to express, in person, my deep disappointment that basement flooding has again affected so many private homes in our neighbourhood. To date, a total of 19 homes – all on the west side of Black Walnut Trail – have reported some degree of basement water infiltration following Friday morning’s rainstorm.
At this stage, it is too early in the investigation to determine the cause(s) of the flooding this time and if or how it may be related to the previous incidents in the Lisgar district. Having said that, if you are interested in reviewing the consultant’s final report or rewatching the last public meeting on this topic back in 2015, you can find all that information on the City’s web site:
As mentioned previously, you have my commitment to keep this matter as a top priority for staff as we investigate the “how” and “why” related to this latest flooding event.