Taylor Clark

LJI Reporter

A week after the remnants of tropical storm Debby swept the area, teams with Gatineau Park continued to restore washed-out parkways.

Strategic communications advisor Maryam El-Akhrass said the cleanup and securing of the sites were expected to take several more days.

“We thank the public for their collaboration as our employees and contractors work hard to repair the damage. We ask everyone to be patient and careful, respect signage and to avoid impacted areas,” said El-Akhrass.

Many visitors were obligated to change their weekend plans after the heavy rain on August 9 washed out the parkway network along with a couple of beaches and parking lots.

As of August 15, the Champlain Parkway section between Fortune and Gatineau Parkways was closed to all visitors as the Fortune and Gatineau Parkways were only open to cyclists and pedestrians. The Meech Lake beaches and boat launch will remain closed until further notice. The Park’s shuttle services were also halted.

“Please exercise caution, respect the barricades and follow the directional signage in place,” read the National Capital Commission (NCC) website.

After inspecting the summer trail network, a majority were open but exercising caution was advised as many trails were affected by erosion. A handful of trails were listed as closed or not recommended as repair work was underway.

“We are providing daily updates online as we continue to make progress,” said El-Akhrass.

Up-to-date information on the Park’s closures can be viewed at the NCC’s website at ncc-ccn.gc.ca/closures/.

“Climate change is causing more frequent severe weather events. The NCC is putting measures in place to increase the resiliency of its assets and operations.”

The NCC’s first Climate Adaptation Plan was adopted this year. Building on the 2020 climate projections study and the 2022 climate vulnerability and risk assessment, the plan aimed to enhance the resilience of the Commission’s operations. The plan and other related documents can be found at ncc-ccn.gc.ca/our-plans/climate-change-adaptation.

Photo caption: Heavy rainfall on August 9 caused extensive damage to Gatineau Park’s parkway network, like one of its main arteries, Champlain Parkway.

Photo credit: Gatineau Park Facebook Page