The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) is taking a long-term approach with a new flood watch.
ERCA has issued a flood watch for all shoreline areas of Windsor-Essex and Pelee Island for the next two weeks due to continued high water levels on the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie.
The conservation authority said these levels bring an elevated risk of flooding and erosion across the watershed. Typically, sustained wind speeds in the range of 40 to 50 kilometres per hour or higher are associated with an increased risk of flooding, shoreline erosion, and damage to shoreline structures. Elevated lake levels have significantly reduced the required wind speed to cause these issues.
ERCA also said elevated lake levels are causing downstream reaches of major tributaries to remain elevated, and under conditions with lake-setup, this has resulted in some rivers and creeks to spill into low-lying areas impacting private property and some roadways. This has already happened in some lakeside locations in Leamington.
Unless superseded by a flood warning, this flood watch will remain in effect through June 15, when the situation will be reevaluated.