TSW Water management Update

Trent-Severn Waterway – Water Level Management Update – December 29, 2022

Parks Canada’s water management team continues to actively monitor water levels, 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.

Weather

The forecast for Friday and Saturday of this week suggests a low precipitation event of 25 to 35 mm combined with plus temperatures approaching 10 degrees.  The warm-up period is estimated to be approximately 7 days in length.  The warm spell is expected to be followed by more seasonal temperatures by January 5, 2023.

Outlook

The snow on the ground is variable across the Trent and Severn River Watersheds and near seasonal values except for a significant snow accumulation in the Severn River Watersheds, which is twice its seasonal value for this time of the year. The warmer weather, in combination with the forecasted rainfall, will likely remove most of the snow in Kawartha lakes and Lower Trent watersheds. Flows in the Trent and Severn Rivers are anticipated to rise significantly, and water levels are expected to increase in all lakes and river reaches.

The Trent-Severn Water Management team will be actively monitoring the changing conditions. Any watershed condition updates will be released by your Conservation Authority.

Haliburton and Northern Areas 

Most lakes are near or below long-term average water levels. Gull and Burnt Rivers are near average. Most Central Lakes are near long-term average water levels.

Kawartha Lakes and the Otonabee River

The Kawartha Lakes are about 10 cm below average and declining. Otonabee River flows are near average and are expected to increase as a result of increased outflows in preparation of the rainfall event. All river reaches are within their seasonal ranges.

Rice Lake and the Lower Trent

Rice Lake is below average and declining and the Lower Trent River reaches remain in the seasonal ranges. Trent River flows are above average.

Severn River

Lake Simcoe water levels are near average. Black River and Severn River flows are near average. River and lake sections on the Severn River are below average.