Chippewa River resident fears for people's properties following flooding (5 photos)

It was last week when Shaun Parent, noted ice climber and guide, noticed an uninvited guest in his neighbourhood north of Sault Ste. Marie. Water - and lots of it - was making its way from the Chippewa River and on to a number of properties.

“We were out ice climbing Wednesday, and there was water in the neighbour’s yard,” said Parent. “Then on Thursday it kept coming up, and started coming into the other neighbour’s yard.”

According to Parent, water is going over and around the ice dam at the mouth of the river. He said there are four permanent residences and at least seven seasonal residences that could possibly suffer extensive structural damage come April, when the snow and ice usually begin to melt along the Chippewa River area.

“A lot of people still don’t know that their yards got flooded,” Parent said. “Nobody’s been called by the authorities, as far as I know.”

Parent said that earlier this week, he noticed that two people in ‘an Ontario truck’, decked out in rubber boots, were trudging near his property and taking notes. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), meanwhile has confirmed that a problem exists in the area following a site visit.

"During the site visit MNRF staff observed several properties and some buildings surrounded by water,” read the statement. “A large number of the properties in this area are seasonal. Road access in and out of the area has not been affected by flooding. There is no mandatory evacuation order in place.”

Although the MNRF can’t confirm what’s causing the flooding, it isn’t ruling out the possibility of an ice jam in the river, and that the situation will be monitored daily by its staff.

Parent, meanwhile, openly wonders what exactly will be done if - and when - the localized flooding intensifies, not only for the sake of his own property, but other surrounding his.

“What are people supposed to do, sit and let their houses get ruined, while people take notes and walk around the yard? Do something. There’s got to be a plan of attack here.”