The Provincial Government has engaged an independent expert to lead the assessment of the cause of the flooding event at Mud Lake.

Back in May, the surrounding environment, and the homes of 30 people sustained damage from the flooding, and residents immediately began talking to lawyers about a class action lawsuit against Nalcor, whom they mostly collectively blamed.

They want to prove the Muskrat Falls project was to blame, and to ensure more flooding will not occur as a result of it.

The review will be led by Dr. Karl-Erich Lindenschmidt. Lindenschmidt is an associate professor at the School of Environment and Sustainability and Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan.

He holds 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, and has decades of research experience and has published extensively on topics that include flood and flood risk management.

The Provincial Government is claiming to want a review that 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.

Minister Perry Trimper, also MHA for Lake Melville, says “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.”