By Chelsea Laskowski

RM of St. Louis: prompt action on flooding needed

May 7, 2015 | 2:59 PM

A declaration by the rural municipality (RM) of St. Louis calls for prompt action to prevent harm or damage within its boundaries due to flooding.

The location emergency declaration, which revolves mainly around a lake in the in RM’s western region, was signed on Wednesday and made public on Thursday.

The lake in question, Chicot Lake, is one of many that have been rising for years, according to the Water Security Agency’s Patrick Boyle.

“It’s a terminal lake, basically meaning it doesn’t drain anywhere naturally. So when precipitation into that lake outpaces the evaporation the lake level rises,” Boyle said.

Chicot Lake is nearing a record high, he added. It’s located about 15 kilometres from the town of St. Louis.

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A potential solution has been discussed for years by the RM, the Water Security Agency, and the St. Louis Conservation Development Area Authority to “manage the lake and satisfy the needs from the people around there,” Boyle said.

The RM’s declaration, moved by Armand Roy, says flooding “of roads essential for emergency service vehicles and massive flooding of agricultural and non-arable land” has reached a state of local emergency.

“From what we know, no homeowners are being affected but farmland and municipal road infrastructure is experiencing some issues,” Boyle said.

His understanding is some of the affected roads are seasonal.

So far it appears the issue hasn’t reached the town of St. Louis, as its mayor, Les Rancourt, first learned of the state of emergency in the RM on Thursday.

– with files from James Bowler

claskowski@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @chelsealaskowsk

by Chelsea Laskowski

RM of St. Louis: prompt action on flooding needed

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