Water Level Management Update – June 2016
Parks Canada's water management team continues to actively monitor water levels and flows, and weather forecasts across the Trent-Severn Waterway. These factors are used to determine dam operations on a daily basis for the Trent-Severn Waterway.
For more information regarding watershed status, please visit the website of your local conservation authority. These are Kawartha Conservation, Otonabee Region Conservation Authority, Ganaraska Conservation Authority, Lower Trent Conservation Authority, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority or, in all other areas of the Trent and Severn Watersheds, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Weather
Since mid-April precipitation amounts has been less than normal. This has resulted in lower than average stream flows. A drought warning has been released by the Lower Trent Conservation Authority and numerous Burn Bans are in effect. The summer forecast suggests slightly higher than average temperatures with about average precipitation.
Haliburton and Northern Areas
The Gull River reservoirs are 93 % full. The Central Reservoirs are 97% full. The Burnt River Reservoirs are 89% full; the percentages on the Burnt River are lower due to the minimum flow requirements on the Irondale and Burnt Rivers. It is anticipated that the reservoir draw down will commence next week.
Kawartha Lakes and the Otonabee River
The Kawartha Lakes, with the exception of Lake Scugog, are being maintained slightly higher than average. The dam in Lindsay, controlling the levels on Lake Scugog, has all the logs in and the dam is sealed tightly. The Otonabee River is down to minimum flows and levels in the river reaches are being held at navigable levels.
Rice Lake and the Lower Trent
Rice Lake is being maintained slightly above average and the Lower Trent is being sustained currently by the minimum flows out of the Otonabee River.
Severn River
Lake Simcoe water levels are slightly below average. Flows will continue to decrease down the Green and Severn Rivers. Lake St. John will be lower than average due to the lack of precipitation.