From the TSW:
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May 10, 2017
Weather
Significant rainfall over the last week (April 28 to May 6) has resulted in total precipitation amounts ranging from 85-160 mm over that time period which have increased water levels and flows across the Trent-Severn Waterway. Comparatively average rainfall for the entire month of May across the Trent-Severn ranges from 80-100 mm. Please check the website of your local conservation authority or the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry for the most up to date watershed conditions (links can be found at the bottom of this page). The weather forecast suggests that there will be no significant amounts of rain this week.
Haliburton and Northern Areas
After a wetter than normal April in the Haliburton area, with 100-125 mm of rain falling versus the monthly average of 76 mm, the Haliburton area received significant rainfall during the first week of May totalling a further 100-125 mm. Comparatively the average precipitation amount for the entire month of May in Haliburton is 93 mm. Subsequently the Gull and Burnt River Reservoir Lakes are full or overfull. Gull and Burnt River flows will continue to increase and lakes will continue to rise. There will be reduced inflows today at Twelve Mile and Horseshoe Dam. Central Lakes are full or overfull.
Kawartha Lakes and the Otonabee River
The Kawartha Lakes levels are overfull and will continue to increase due to the high flows from the Gull and Burnt rivers. The Otonabee River flow will continue to increase.
Rice Lake and the Lower Trent
Rice Lake is overfull and will continue to rise due to increased flow on the Otonabee. Lower Trent will increase as well.
Severn River
The Black River flow has peaked. Water levels and flows are high on the Severn River and will remain high as water will be released from Lake Simcoe as Black River flows decline. Dam operations are complete at Lake St. John to prevent backflow.
As the water level of the Black River is high every spring preparation to protect Sparrow Lake businesses and cottagers is consistently too late. This year levels on Sparrow were already threatening commerce and cottagers due to the Black River and lock #42 was still open allowing heavy flow. The weather forecast was obvious to those of us who watch simply the news. Why were precautions not taken at that point to slow the flow by closing #42 earlier! Simcoe although high was not in danger and Sparrow was already flooding.
This is the second time that flooding has occurred in a few year timeframe. Although Parks Canada might be excused for the first occurrence, it cannot be excused this time, else there will not be any attempt to eliminate (not mitigate) similar flooding in the future.
Koshlong Lake has had some minor problems and it would be informative to find out what other lakes have had problems this year.