Sunday afternoon Goulais River update (aerial photos)

Kirk Dillabough of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has released the following observations from its helicopter reconnaisance of the Goulais River on Sunday afternoon:

************************* - The mouth (shown) shows signs that it may start to open up.

- From the mouth upstream to Grant’s Landing the ice is still fairly solid.

- From Grant’s Landing to approximately three kilometres upstream of the Highway 17 North bridge there are alternating areas of open water and areas of large broken ice sheets.

- From 3 kilometres upstream of the Highway 17 North Bridge there is a 1.5-kilometre stretch of smaller broken ice.

- The river is open from this point through Kirby’s Corners to approximately the Ranger Lake Road turnoff.

- From the Ranger Lake Road turnoff up to the old sawmill in Searchmont the ice is more solid in appearance.

- Upstream of the Searchmont Bridge on Highway 556 the river is open.

- The flows midway between Searchmont and Kirby’s Corners are faster, which is indicative of spring runoff.

- This may increase water levels in the community of Goulais River over the next day.

*************************