Rising waters in Bracebridge raise concerns as officials warn of critical days ahead

Residents in Ontario’s Muskoka region are bracing for worsening conditions as water levels rise in Bracebridge, with the next 24 to 48 hours expected to be critical.

At the heart of the cottage, the river is roaring, with water rushing over Bracebridge Falls and pushing levels higher than they have been in years.

Officials say the situation is already significant, although there is hope it will not reach the levels seen in 2019, when seasonal flooding and heavy rains forced the city to declare a state of emergency.

Mayor Rick Maloney said the outlook will depend on water flowing south from northern areas.

“It will all depend on what comes from the north and that will be something we will see in the next 24 hours,” he said.

Some residents say they are already feeling the impact.

The Jonkman family, who bought their cottage last summer, are working to keep the rising water at bay after their backyard was flooded.

“We knew about the flood that happened in 2019, and you think, OK, maybe this is a one-in-100-year flood, but it’s creeping up,” Janet Jonkman said.

Neighbors worked around the clock to fill sandbags and limit the damage.

One resident, Bill Talbot, who has lived in the area for almost 14 years, said this is the second worst flood he has seen.

Meanwhile, a popular local attraction, Santa’s Village theme park, is partially underwater ahead of its planned opening next month.

A spokesman said the flooded areas mainly involved travel infrastructure and expressed hope that the situation would not worsen.

Across the region, residents and officials say they are closely monitoring conditions, with some describing water volumes over the falls as close to historic levels.

The city is warning people in areas that may have become isolated due to washed-out roads to use caution and stay put.