Exhaustion setting in as Ottawa River levels begin to stabilize

Water levels are beginning to stabilize once again on stretches of the Ottawa River, with peaks expected either today or tomorrow in the capital region and further downstream.

The City of Ottawa said that water levels in Constance Bay, Britannia and Cumberlandare expected to peak Sunday or Monday at heights just below those reached in an earlierpeak this year.

• Ottawa River continues to rise, breaks 59-year-old record
• Ottawa River finally peaks in capital region

Ottawa remains under a state of emergency, and residents are being asked to leave their sandbag walls up and remain on alert this weekend.

Water levels rose also between twoto six centimetres in various areas of Gatineau over the last 24 hours, the City of Gatineau reported early Sunday morning.

From Lac Coulonge to Lac Deschnes, levels continue to slowly rise and will likely peak Monday, according to Sunday's update from the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board (ORRPB).

Further down the river, from the Hull Marina to Hawkesbury, the levels have likely hit their peak, the board said.

The ORRPB said levels have temporarily stabilized near Pembroke, Ont., and Westmeath, Ont. but could rise again as levels increase in reservoirs even further upstream.

Exhaustion taking over

In Gatineau'sLac Beauchamp district, Ronald Sweeney counts himself lucky.

The basement of his home is dry, but some of his neighbours aren't so fortunate.

"Some of them have left. They've given up. They said, 'Youknow, we'll take the money, whatever [the government]gives us, and we're leaving,'" he said.

"I know some of them have houses worth twice as much as they may ever get from the government, andit's unfortunate."

Sweeney said he's also seen a lot of exhaustion on the faces of his neighbours, after so many weeks spent trying to protect their homes.

"They don't sleep as much. They have to make sure that the power is still on so their pumpsare still working," he said.

Many people have relied on volunteers to help fill sandbags and build massive walls around their homes.

The volunteerresponse has been amazing, saidNicole Ltourneauespecially compared to 2017, when the floodwaters ended up damagingher home on Boulevard Hurtubise beyond repair.

Ltourneausaid she felt alone three years ago,until a couple drove up in a boat and knocked at her door, offering soup and sandwiches.

"I mean I just basically started to cry. I was so touched that someone was helping us. We were so stuck," said Ltourneau.

"But this year it's every night. It's really really quite amazing."

Her mother still lives onHurtubiseand has been checked on every day, she said.

Rain affectswater levels

Recent rains and reservoirs in the northern stretches of the watershed are increasing the volume ofwaterin the river. Those reservoirs are full and can no longer hold back water, which they did earlier in the spring.

• 2nd flood peak expected this weekend

After weeks of rising waters, devastating floods surged through parts of the Ottawa-Gatineau area, forcing hundreds of people from their homes.

Many residents in Pontiac,Que., where most of the evacuations took place on April 29, were able to return home last weekend. Several residents have not been able to return yetafter their homes were severely damaged.

Ottawa River levels near Pembroke, Ont., broke a nearly 60-year-old recordSaturday, reaching a height of 113.68 metres above sea level one centimetre higher than the previous record set in 1960.

Those levels rose by another centimetre Sunday.

• 'The 500-year flood': Dozens forced from homes in Whitewater Township

Almost150 Canadian soldiers are helping in hard-hit areas northwest of Ottawa, including the townships of Laurentian Valley and Whitewater Region.

More than 100 Canadian Armed Forces members were in Pembroke on Saturday to protect critical infrastructureand support residents as floodwaters peaked.