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Lake Ontario levels are going up and raising concerns about flooding

Officials in Niagara/Orleans County hope it won't be as bad as 2017
Posted at 6:01 PM, Apr 22, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-22 18:11:54-04

WILSON, N.Y. — Water levels on Lake Ontario have shot up 5 inches in the last 10 days, according to emergency managers for Niagara and Orleans Counties.

That is raising concerns about flooding and a repeat of 2017 when high lake levels caused massive amounts of shoreline damage.

Officials are urging residents in low-lying areas of Wilson and Olcott to be vigilant and report any problems with rising water.

The situation is being caused because Lake Ontario output through the Moses-Saunders Power Dam on the St. Lawrence River has been cut back due to flooding in Ottawa.

Sandbags and emergency procedures used during the 2017 crisis are ready to go again, said Jonathan Schultz, Niagara County Emergency Manager.

Weather will determine what happens as excessive rainfall could make the situation worse along with strong winds from the north or northeast.

7 Eyewitness News Reporter Ed Reilly has more on the situation.