Flood in Pinkerton, Ontario, hits the 100-year event level

WALKERTON – Mayor Chris Peabody stated in a press release late last week that, based on a preliminary analysis, the recent rainfall and snowmelt caused a 100-year flood event in the lower Teeswater River near Pinkerton.

That led to a breach in the privately-owned Pinkerton dam, flooding homes and across Bruce Road 15. A section of the road remains closed to all vehicles.

Peabody said in an interview that several emergency management meetings have been held. Last week he authorized the placing of large, one-metre sandbags to protect the affected homes. Ten men were involved in the process, which was done at Brockton’s expense.

Fortunately, Brockton has had an emergency reserve fund for years and has been able to cover the cost, Peabody said Tuesday, immediately prior to another emergency meeting about the flooding situation. To date, the response to the Pinkerton flooding has depleted about half of the $100,000 fund, the mayor said.

The municipality continues to pursue emergency funding from the Province of Ontario to support the affected homeowners and the municipality’s mitigation efforts. As of press time, efforts to secure funding had been unsuccessful.

Peabody said he’s extremely pleased with the work of SVCA, the county and his own staff, as well as the private contractors brought in to assist. He’s not at all pleased with the province, describing their efforts (or lack thereof) as a “big fail.”

Said Peabody, “It’s being passed around from ministry to ministry. It’s now in the hands of Municipal Affairs … they won’t release funds because staff don’t consider it a natural disaster. They say it’s a man-made one.”

He went on to say he finds that assessment outrageous, since Pinkerton and area were hit by a once-in-100-years flood event caused by the sudden melting of the substantial snow cover, and severe rain storms, occurring in a matter of a couple of days.

“For a small, rural municipality like Brockton to get no help from the province is wrong. All rural municipalities should be alarmed,” the mayor said.

He explained that there are numerous small, privately owned dams like the one in Pinkerton located throughout the province, and if one of them fails, the municipality in which it is located is responsible for the damage done downstream.

“This gap (in provincial emergency assistance) is wrong,” he said.

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The current situation has now stabilized. The Teeswater River had rerouted itself, the mayor explained, creating two streams. “The one stream was flow toward homes” in Pinkerton. That’s what led to the decision to assemble the emergency team in Brockton. Peabody said an effective response was accomplished without a formal declaration of an emergency.

The cofferdam – a temporary, watertight enclosure – that was constructed has provided a safe, stable environment for the homes. The mayor noted the homeowners had no overland flood insurance.

Brockton continues to work closely with Bruce County, provincial agencies, and conservation partners in response to the unique flooding situation in Pinkerton. 

Peabody has been advised that it may take several months before the dam owner can complete emergency repairs. The latest information he’s received indicates repair work likely won’t start until mid-May, depending on weather and water levels in the river.

Flooding is likely to remain an ongoing problem in Pinkerton until the dam is repaired and the river is redirected to its original course.

While not a permanent solution, the cofferdam is a mitigation measure to protect persons and property. Residents are advised to continue to use extreme caution in areas of high water.

A press release from the municipality stated Saugeen Conservation and the County of Bruce continue to conduct daily site inspections and ongoing monitoring of water levels in the area.

Fortunately, flood mitigation efforts have been effective, to the point that Saugeen Conservation reduced the flood warning to a flood watch for Pinkerton. 

Flooding is still occurring in low-lying areas, and impacted residents remain at risk. People are urged to stay back from all watercourses and keep family and pets at a safe distance.

Information posted on the municipal website stated as of Monday, a section of Bruce Road 15 between Sideroad 5 Greenock and Greenock-Brant remained closed to all vehicles, including those of emergency responders. A detour was in place, using Sideroad 5, Concession 10, and Greenock Brant. Signs are in place to guide vehicles through the detour.

Residents will be able to monitor the municipality’s Pinkerton flooding webpage at www.Brockton.ca/PinkertonFlooding to stay informed.