Heavy rains Tuesday morning have led to ‘widespread flooding’ across Lambton, prompting road closures, beach warnings, and emergency alerts from local industry.
“Widespread rain across the region has led to the ground across the St. Clair watershed to be completely saturated,” the St. Clair Conservation Authority said in its flood watch bulletin, Tuesday, pointing to some 50-150mm of rainfall across the region since July 9.
“As a result, water levels are elevated across the region.”
Environment Canada had issued a rainfall warning early Tuesday, forecasting rainfall amounts of up to 100mm, and rainfall rates of 40mm an hour.
Flooding along Highway 402 prompted the closure of the eastbound lanes at Nauvoo Road, and the westbound lanes at Kerwood Road, according to Lambton OPP.
In St. Clair Township, the golf course was closed until further notice and municipal officials asked for patience as public works crews responded to calls about flooding across the region.
“We have received a lot of rain in a short amount of time, and we are flooded in all areas,” a social media post stated. “We are aware of the flooding and we need to wait for our systems to catch up, this includes storm drains and sanitary sewers. Please have patience as we navigate this.”
Emergency notifications were also issued by Suncor and Shell, where spills response teams have been deployed.
The Suncor refinery at 1900 St. Clair Parkway issued A CAER Code 8 through the Aamjiwnaang Notification System early Tuesday in response to a “large volume of water at the docks with potential offsite impact.
“At approximately 8 a.m. on Tuesday, July 16, the Suncor Sarnia refinery initiated an incident response because of heavy rainfall,” the company noted. “Currently, no sheens have been observed on the river and monitoring continues. As a precaution, the refinery’s Spill Response Team deployed booms into the St. Clair River.”
Odours are present in the area and the refinery is assessing an overflow of stormwater to the South Vidal Street ditch, the company added.
“Water sampling has been initiated and other measures to manage water are being implemented.”
Just before 12 noon, a Code 10 — which notifies of a spill to the St. Clair River requiring downriver notification — was issued by the Shell Manufacturing Centre in Corunna following a sheen discovered on Talfourd Creek.
“The sheen has entered the St. Clair river near the outflow from Talfourd creek,” the company stated. “Shell is taking measures to contain and remove the sheen from the water. The situation is being closely monitored.”
The all-clear was issued later that evening.
Tuesday’s heavy rain also led to warning posts of high E.coli bacteria at two area beaches, Grand Bend North and the Pinery.
Residents are also reminded to avoid watercourses and flooded areas due to dangerous conditions, slippery banks, and cold, swift-moving water, the St.Clair Conservation Authority added. “Children and pets should be kept away from the water.”