Water Management Update – July 3, 2015
As of July 3rd the TSW reported the reservoir system was about 94% full overall. All of the reservoirs in the Gull and Burnt systems are above their average levels for this date. Two of the larger southern reservoirs, Eels and Crystal lakes, remain below average for this date but are rising after recent rainfall and no water is being drawn from those lakes at this time.
Over the last two weeks TSW has undertaken log operations at most reservoir dams. The log operations have been planned to balance the percentage drawdown across all reservoirs and to restore flow in rivers and creeks, and seasonal levels in the flow through lakes. It is projected that reservoirs will continue to be above 90% full through the next 10 days.
June proved to be a very wet month more than making up for the lack of spring melt and limited precipitation earlier in the spring. In June precipitation at Peterborough was 162 mm which is more than double the normal 80 mm of rainfall. At Haliburton the precipitation totalled 109 mm which is 34% above the normal 81 mm of rainfall. The significant rainfall over the Kawartha Lakes has meant that the Canal lake water levels remain high and it is unlikely water from the reservoirs will be needed before later in July.
If you visit the Parks Canada Website (link top right on this CEWF homepage) you can follow the levels changes on the canal lakes and rivers as well as on the reservoirs.
TSW has confirmed that they do not see the PanAm Games as any different from their normal operation from Horseshoe and Twelve Mile lakes for other white water events. The Games are not expected to significantly impact levels and flows on other lakes.
The current high water in some of the Gull reservoirs is the result of the recent significant rainfall events and logs have been removed to reduce levels where they remain seasonally high.