MUSKOKA — A sunny day while some were out with rakes and leaf blowers, Faye Rashigzadeh was filling sand bags to protect her home feet from the rising Moon River in Bala.
With Faryal, “a friend from the city,” on the shovel calling it “fun” and her holding the bright orange bags they were busy Sunday re-enforcing the River Street property below the Burgess Dam and not far from the raging Bala Falls.
No unlike thousands across Muskoka as they battled another spring tide of flooding waters.
For a week rains have poured down and anyone living anywhere from streams, to rivers to lakes has had to build up their defences.
Rashigzadeh had help from friends and neighbours Saturday who together built an orange wall by hand-bombing and stacking standard 35-pound bags five-high. Most of them she picked up at Muskoka Lakes Township drop-off points — and a sand pile she had delivered to her door a shovel’s throw away from the river that never relents.
River Street resident Faye Rashigzadeh, who has lived on River Street in Bala for five years, says she’s never seen water levels this high. She holds a bag as her friend Faryl fills it with sand Sunday. PHOTOS Mark Clairmont MuskokaTODAY.com
From Minden Falls, through Vankoughnet, into Bracebridge and out along the Muskoka River to Bala and beyond Georgian Bay it’s the same story as past years.
Most say it’s one of the worst since the big flood in 2019, which caused huge damage.
Most now are more prepared.
At the Muskoka Wharf in Gravenhurst there’s a massive blue water balloon circling the Segwun and Wenonah II ticket office as Lake Muskoka rises on the dock where passengers load on the ships.
The Segwun and Wenonah II float up to the top of the dock level where the town erected a massive blue bladder around the ticket office to prevent it flooding again this year.
“It’s several inches deep,” Muskoka Steamships president John Miller said today.
He said the Town of Gravenhurst put it up Friday.
A similar one along Beaumont Drive in Bracebridge, across from Santa’s Village, is about the length of a football field.
Richard Gerber, whose company sold the bladders to the province of Ontario, said the Aqua Barrier water-inflated dams were sold to the province of Ontario a few years ago. Water is either pumped into them before hand or with flood water to protect property. And are hard as rock.
The roaring Muskoka Falls in Bracebridge is a popular spring sight for family photo-ops.
A drive around the Muskoka Lake shows evidence in a number of locations — seen along roads and highways where levels are higher than normal.
Some rural roads have been closed — and reopened — the past week.
At the Wharf a water level gauge in front of the Segwun (under renovations) last week recorded the depth at 37 inches and 55 inches yesterday.
In Bala the Bala Falls is gushing — helping the recent Swift River power site generate more power as planned.
In Port Carling at the locks the water is just over the dock in front of the old Duke’s Boats.
Water levels are high around the Muskoka Lakes, including here in Port Carling on the Lake Muskoka side of the locks.
In Bracebridge the might Muskoka Falls is again sending tons of water under the Silver Bridge, which is under repair for the rest of the year. It, too, is helping Lakeland Power produce energy for its Muskoka customers.
Below the falls along the Bracebridge Bay Park, levels aren’t as high as seven years ago.
However logs and other flotsam are gathering along the shoreline, where the park benches and big metal garbage cans are barely seen poking out above the water.
Huntsville, a headwaters source of much flooding, is experiencing another bad year of flooding.
But the Town of Huntsville says it has “not” issued a flood emergency.
The Lady Muskoka is portected from the road by this huge – hard as rock – bladder on Beaumont Drive.
The Lady Muskoka is portected from the road by this huge - hard as rock - bladder on Beaumont Drive.
The Lady Muskoka is portected from the road by this huge – hard as rock – bladder on Beaumont Drive.
Oh, deer! Lady Muskoka's bow sits close to Beaumont Drive Sunday.
Oh, deer! Lady Muskoka’s bow sits close to Beaumont Drive Sunday.
Last Wednesday there was still ice at the Muskoka Wharf - and a ramp.
Last Wednesday there was still ice at the Muskoka Wharf – and a ramp.
By Sunday town workers had removed the ramp to shore for safe-keeping.
By Sunday town workers had removed the ramp to shore for safe-keeping.
The Segwun and Wenonah II float up to the top of the dock level where the town erected a massive blue bladder around the ticket office to prevent it flooding again this year.
The Segwun and Wenonah II float up to the top of the dock level where the town erected a massive blue bladder around the ticket office to prevent it flooding again this year.
Water levels on shore are up "several inches," but is protected now.
Water levels on shore are up “several inches,” but is protected now.
A ribbon of blue rubber bladder surrounds the ticket office of the Muskoka Steamsships.
A ribbon of blue rubber bladder surrounds the ticket office of the Muskoka Steamsships.
Float your boats! Lake Muskoka licks the sides of the Segwun and Wenonah II.
Float your boats! Lake Muskoka licks the sides of the Segwun and Wenonah II.
Just last Wednesday this water rule showed 37 inches and only four days later was at 55 inches.
Just last Wednesday this water rule showed 37 inches and only four days later was at 55 inches.
By Sunday the water level at the Muskoka Wharf had risen more than a foot.
By Sunday the water level at the Muskoka Wharf had risen more than a foot.
Decks along Beaumont drive are flooded.
Decks along Beaumont drive are flooded.
Debris washes onshore at Bracebridge Bay Park.
Debris washes onshore at Bracebridge Bay Park.
A hint of a rainbow can just been seen on the far side of Muskoka Falls.
A hint of a rainbow can just been seen on the far side of Muskoka Falls.
Those who remember 2010's flood reminisce.
Those who remember 2010’s flood reminisce.
Raye Rashigzadeh had friends help re-enforcing her home in Bala.
Raye Rashigzadeh had friends help re-enforcing her home in Bala.
The Burgess Dam in Bala has sand bags protecting River Street.
The Burgess Dam in Bala has sand bags protecting River Street.
Docks like this one below Bala Falls face the brunt of flooding.
Docks like this one below Bala Falls face the brunt of flooding.
The Bala Falls on the Moon River is the jumping off point for flood waters destined for Georgian Bay.
The Bala Falls on the Moon River is the jumping off point for flood waters destined for Georgian Bay.
The east channel of the Bala Falls shows the power and might of the flooding.
The east channel of the Bala Falls shows the power and might of the flooding.
Boathouses along the Muskoka River going out from Bracebridge to Lake Muskoka are suffering levels not too uncommon.
Boathouses along the Muskoka River going out from Bracebridge to Lake Muskoka are suffering levels not too uncommon.
Boathouses on the Muskoka River below the falls show different fates.
Boathouses on the Muskoka River below the falls show different fates.
Docks look like islands in front of the two old Peerless tour boats in Breacebridge.
Docks look like islands in front of the two old Peerless tour boats in Breacebridge.
Have a seat - in the summer at Bracebridge Bay Park where even litter containers are hard to see at sea.
Have a seat – in the summer at Bracebridge Bay Park where even litter containers are hard to see at sea.
Protecting boathouses is the order of the day this spring in Bracebridge and Muskoka.
Protecting boathouses is the order of the day this spring in Bracebridge and Muskoka.
The Segwun and Wenonah II float up to the top of the dock level where the town erected a massive blue bladder around the ticket office to prevent it flooding again this year.
The Segwun and Wenonah II float up to the top of the dock level where the town erected a massive blue bladder around the ticket office to prevent it flooding again this year.
