2011 Lake Champlain and Richelieu River Floods
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Lake Champlain and Richelieu River Floods are a currently ongoing series of water level increases
that began during the end of April 2011 and caused a subsequent overflow of the Richelieu River
in Canada
and Lake Champlain
in the United States. The floods have affected about 3,000 homes in Montérégie and have caused an estimated six million U.S. dollars of damage in seven counties in the northern area of Vermont
. Similar damage has been reported in New York State.
In Quebec, the major cities affected by the flooding are Venise-en-Quebec
, Noyan
, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Henryville
, Saint-Paul-de-l'Île-aux-Noix
and Sainte-Anne-de-Sabrevois
. On May 5, the Canadian Forces
were requested to help evacuate residents and build dikes to try to protect areas at risk.
area in response to a formal request from the province of Quebec for assistance, following this natural disaster
. The Canadian Forces
worked to limit the damage caused by the worst floods to occur in the valley of the Richelieu River
and on Lake Champlain
over the previous 150 years. Over 650 Canadian soldiers participated at one time or another in Operation Lotus until the 17th of June.
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
that began during the end of April 2011 and caused a subsequent overflow of the Richelieu River
Richelieu River
The Richelieu River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows from the north end of Lake Champlain about north, ending at the confluence with the St. Lawrence River at Sorel-Tracy, Quebec downstream and northeast of Montreal...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
in the United States. The floods have affected about 3,000 homes in Montérégie and have caused an estimated six million U.S. dollars of damage in seven counties in the northern area of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. Similar damage has been reported in New York State.
In Quebec, the major cities affected by the flooding are Venise-en-Quebec
Venise-en-Québec, Quebec
Venise-en-Québec is a municipality in the province of Quebec, Canada, located at the north end of Lake Champlain in the Regional County Municipality of Le Haut-Richelieu. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 1,319.-Population:Population trend...
, Noyan
Noyan, Quebec
Noyan is a municipality in the province of Quebec, Canada, located in the Regional County Municipality of Le Haut-Richelieu. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 1,354.-Population:Population trend-Language:...
, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Henryville
Henryville, Quebec
Henryville is a municipality in the province of Quebec, Canada, located in the Regional County Municipality of Le Haut-Richelieu. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 1,529.-Population:Population trend...
, Saint-Paul-de-l'Île-aux-Noix
Saint-Paul-de-l'Île-aux-Noix, Quebec
Saint-Paul-de-l'Île-aux-Noix is a parish municipality in southern Quebec, Canada located in the administrative area of the Montérégie. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 1,996.-Population:Population trend-Language:...
and Sainte-Anne-de-Sabrevois
Sainte-Anne-de-Sabrevois, Quebec
Sainte-Anne-de-Sabrevois is a parish municipality in the province of Quebec, Canada, located in the Regional County Municipality of Le Haut-Richelieu. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 1,889.-Population:Population trend-Language:...
. On May 5, the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
were requested to help evacuate residents and build dikes to try to protect areas at risk.
Operation Lotus
Operation Lotus was the name of the military operation to assist citizens in the MontérégieMontérégie
Montérégie is an administrative region in southwest Québec. It includes the cities of Boucherville, Brossard, Granby, Longueuil, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Saint-Hyacinthe, Sorel-Tracy, and Vaudreuil-Dorion....
area in response to a formal request from the province of Quebec for assistance, following this natural disaster
Natural disaster
A natural disaster is the effect of a natural hazard . It leads to financial, environmental or human losses...
. The Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
worked to limit the damage caused by the worst floods to occur in the valley of the Richelieu River
Richelieu River
The Richelieu River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows from the north end of Lake Champlain about north, ending at the confluence with the St. Lawrence River at Sorel-Tracy, Quebec downstream and northeast of Montreal...
and on Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
over the previous 150 years. Over 650 Canadian soldiers participated at one time or another in Operation Lotus until the 17th of June.