Executive Council
Municipal Affairs and Environment
June 14, 2017
Provincial Government Announces Appointment to Lead Assessment of Flooding at Mud Lake
The Provincial Government has engaged an independent expert to lead the assessment of the cause of the flooding event at Mud Lake. The review will be led by Dr. Karl-Erich Lindenschmidt, whose work will be supported by an engineering consultant and traditional knowledge from residents. Biographical information about Dr. Lindenschmidt can be found in the backgrounder below.
The approach that the Provincial Government is taking to the review will ensure that those carrying out the work are fully independent and specialized. They will work cooperatively with community representatives to ensure that local knowledge is considered.
The Provincial Government and Nalcor Energy will be expected to provide information to Dr. Lindenschmidt as requested, and government will release the recommendations from this process once a final report is submitted. The report from the consultant is expected to be complete by early fall.
Quotes
“Our government shares the concerns of citizens and we have appointed an independent expert to lead the assessment in determining the cause of the flooding at Mud Lake. I would like to extend my appreciation to Dr. Karl-Erich Lindenschmidt for taking on this work; he brings significant experience and expertise to the process, and I look forward to receiving the report as soon as it is complete.”
Honourable Dwight Ball
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
“I thank Dr. Karl-Erich Lindenschmidt for accepting this position as independent lead expert. Dr. Lindenschmidt is one of the foremost experts in Canada on river ice processes and he will play a vital role in shedding light on the cause of the flooding at Mud Lake.”
Honourable Eddie Joyce
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment
“The cause of the Mud Lake flooding has been of significant concern for the residents of the District of Lake Melville. I appreciate the speed with which our government has acted to engage an eminent expert to lead the assessment. I am also pleased that the traditional knowledge of those who know the river well will be included in this investigation.”
Honourable Perry Trimper
Minister of Service NL and MHA for Lake Melville
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Media contacts
Michelle Cannizzaro
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960
michellecannizzaro@gov.nl.ca
Lynn Robinson
Municipal Affairs and Environment
709-729-5449, 691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca
Bonnie Learning
Constituency Assistant to the
Honourable Perry Trimper, MHA for Lake Melville
709-896-7975
bonnielearning@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Biography of Dr. Karl-Erich Lindenschmidt
Dr. Karl-Erich Lindenschmidt is an associate professor at the School of Environment and Sustainability and Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan.
Dr. Lindenschmidt holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Manitoba, a Master of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toronto, a PhD in Environmental Engineering from the Technical University of Berlin, and a Habilitation degree in Water Resources Management from the Brandenburg Technical University of Cottbus, Germany.
He has decades of research experience and has published extensively on topics such as surface water quality modelling, river ice processes, climate change and river morphology, flood and flood risk management.
Dr. Lindenschmidt is a professional member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan; a board member of the Canadian Association of Water Resources; and a member of the Committee on River Ice Processes and the Environment, one of the most nationally and internationally prestigious groups of experts on ice.
2017 06 14 9:40 a.m.