Changes to Rivers from the Dec. 2010 storm

[ryanward10]

Hello everyone,
I thought we could use a thread where people could post information on their favorite local stream, it would be interesting to learn what changes this big storm has had on the course of various streams and rivers, or if any rapids have been altered. I realize it'll be spring before many of us get a good look, but I thought it might be useful to share.

[Ken Corbett]

Good idea. I see where the Nashwaak peaked at 22 metres, it's never been that high. I wonder what its main trib, Tay Creek, looks like.

[fraserdw]

The Rusagonis from the covered bridge was lapping at the up stream side boards on Tues night. I have seen it higher but I have never, never seen it faster. The water was travelling at incredible speed!

The Oromocto peaked at almost the same height as the big flood a few years ago but is going down very quickly now. The big difference was during the flood the flow was moving back up the Oromocto, during this rain the Oromocto flow continued downstream. Aside note; the Deer Park town trail system was under water and there were some army guys kayaking them.

[mitchell]

Ken,

The Tay has no noticable changes when we ran it yesterday Dec 16. There are a few areas that look like a channel may be formed in a few more years. The sweeper that Dino talked about this spring is now gone but there is one about 4 or 5 turns in from the beginning. It blocks the whole river but the carry around is very easy. The freshet may remove this one in the spring though. Other than that it was smooth sailing and a nice trip to end the year on.

Mitchell

[greyghost]

A few changes here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn2N_DoEW0E&feature=geosearch

[fraserdw]

Hopefully, the government will finally start turning flood plains back into natural spaces that we can all enjoy without settlement. That would provide us with an eco-tourism opportunity and save the continuous every decade bail outs to property owners. It is time we all realize that rivers are not spots for permanent habitation.

[Ken Corbett]

I understand that if a property owner is given one bailout, s/he must sign a release that says s/he can't look for another bailout after the next flood. But yeah, your idea has merit. In a perfect world, these houses should be moved to safer ground, or at least jacked up and flood-proofed.

Should we move all those homes on Riverside Drive in Fredericton that are flooded every ten years? Food for thought, because I grew up on that street.

Ken

[liquidmonkey]

Nasis Stream has blown out at least one strainer that gave trouble before. A new one has situated itself 100 metres upstream. Some new sand/rock bars. Some new channels have appeared. A ton of new wood in the trees below the beaver dam that was there earlier in the year.

[fraserdw]

Urban areas are probably better of (and cheaper) if they are bermed, while at the same time rural properties are bought out. Coming from Western Canada, I am amazed that there is no government leadership of stabilizing the flooding situation for the long term. The Red spills it's banks no more than the Saint John, the property loss value is comparable yet the government solutions are completely opposite.

[ldmrt]

We've had no noticable changes, but I don't think we received as much rain as you guys did in the southern parts of NB. The Upsalquitch was high, but definately not anywhere near flood stage, that's for sure. I don't even remember seeing any driftwood floating by.

[fraserdw]

Has there been a map of the flooded areas produced by GNB yet. I was looking at properties down that way in fall and would like to know where the water got to.