The Municipality of Grenville-sur-la-Rouge wants its voice to be heard while the Québec government makes changes to the province’s flood control and protection laws.
When council met on July 9, it approved a statement expressing concern and comment about the Special Intervention Zone (SIZ) created by the government which aims to promote better management of flood zones. Grenville-sur-la-Rouge is one of 783 municipalities within the SIZ.
The municipal statement calls for the Québec government to give special consideration to private homes, municipal structures, and dams in existing flood zones along rivers like the Rouge.
During flooding this past spring, concerns over the safety of the unused Bell Falls hydroelectric dam on the Rouge prompted the evacuation of residents living in homes downstream of the site to the Ottawa River.
Québec’s municipal affairs ministry is permitting municipalities to make changes to the SIZ map until August 19.
In order to keep property owners and residents informed about the SIZ and changes to flood control and protection regulations, the municipality is holding a SIZ information meeting on August 9. It starts at 7 p.m. at the Grenville-sur-la-Rouge town hall at 88 rue des Érables.
Property owners and residents can also find out if they are affected by the boundaries of the SIZ by going to the Québec environment ministry’s ZIS website, www.cehq.gouv.qc.ca/zones-inond/ZIS-20190715
