The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority issued a flood watch Friday for Lake Huron as cool, blustery fall-like weather takes hold.
Northerly winds over the lake are expected to gust between 45 - 55 kilometres per hour.
The winds will create waves of one-and-a-half metres that will gradually decrease to a half-metre overnight.
The authority warned residents along the Lake Huron shoreline, especially along Old Lakeshore Road at Bright's Grove, of the potential for minor storm surge flooding and erosion.
Residents are reminded to avoid watercourses and flooded areas due to slippery banks and swift-moving water. Children and pets should be kept away from the water.
It's been a challenge getting this year's planned shoreline restoration work done due in part to record high water levels. Sarnia's General Manager of Engineering and Operations, David Jackson has reported to council that the contract for work along Old Lakeshore Road near Helen Avenue has been terminated and is to be retendered with work starting early next year.
The project near Kenwick Street is nearing completion while work by Marion Avenue is half done with completion expected in December.
Council approved $2.25 million worth of work in this year's capital budget which also triggered a 40 per cent contribution to the conservation authority by the federal government.
Work began during the winter months but due to a lack of ice coverage, productivity was slow. Work was put on hold during the regulated fish spawning season from March 15 to July 15. In order to continue working over the summer and fall, additional environmental mitigation measures were required by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Those measures required negotiations with the contractors to address additional costs and other impacts.