As darkness falls, it appears that water flow in the Red Deer River through Drumheller have leveled out.

While conditions can change quickly, water levels appear to have plateaued late this afternoon. According to the most recent available numbers from Alberta Environment since 3 p.m., the flow rate has hovered around the 1,300 cubic metres/second rate.  It appears to have peaked at 1,322.

“The readings are starting to level out,” said Mayor Yemen.

“The flows in Rosedale will probably continue to rise for the next two hours, and the next four hours in East Coulee as it goes through,” said Mayor Yemen at 11 p.m., Sunday night.

The water is predicted to continue to flow at a high rate for a number of hours before levels fall.

While it appears much of Drumheller will be unharmed by the flood, water has risen on homes in a number of low-lying areas.

Like in 2005, Lehigh was hit hard. A dyke built by at the community was breached and 14 homes had to be evacuated.

“It is very unfortunate, but we built it with the information we had,” said Yemen.

He was impressed by neighbours helping neighbours in a time of need.

“It is pretty cool to watch the way people respond, it was incredible,” he said.

The Emergency Operations Committee will be meeting Monday morning to assess river conditions.
   

According to Alberta Environment numbers, the flow rate at Drumheller as of 5 p.m. was 1,332 cubic metre per second, surpassing the predicted peak of 1,300.

Residents and workers have kept one eye on the river all day, expecting a crest close to midnight. According to flow rates posed on Alberta Environment’s website, the rate of flow is increasing.

Mayor Terry Yemen said as the day has progressed, crews have been busy building and repairing dykes and “putting out fires.”

“There was a breach in the dykes in Lehigh,” said Yemen. “There have been lots of little things popping up”

Lehigh has now been evacuated, 14 homes are affected by flooding.

Throughout the day, sandbags have been distributed throughout the valley, and crews continue to fortify dykes in Midland, Rosedale and Newcastle. On Sunday afternoon, the Gordon Taylor Bridge was reduced to a single lane as attempts were made to free a logjam below the bridge.

 Mayor Yemen explains following the 2005 flood, dykes were rebuilt to be at least one foot higher than the maximum level in 2005. Some have already been breached.

He says they have not received any revised flow numbers other than the original 1,300cubic metre/ second that was predicted, so they do not know whether the water will rise any further.  Anecdotal information from residents watching their property show the flow has been slowing down as the day has progressed.

            “We are not sure where we are going to end up,” said Yemen. “They (Alberta Environment) gave us indications that it wasn’t going to be worse than 2005.”