Trent-Severn Waterway – Water Level Management Update – April 4, 2023
Weather
The five-day forecast suggests 35-48 mm with air temperatures reaching double digits in the Haliburton areas and above 0°C at night.
Outlook
With the onset of the snowmelt and forecasted amount of rain, coupled with warm temperatures, flows and water levels are expected to increase at all locations as the impacts of the rain and melting snow work their way through the system.
The Trent-Severn Water Management Team will be active, and the changing conditions will be closely monitored. Any watershed conditions updates will be released by your Conservation Authority or local Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources district.
Ice on Shorelines
The temperature variations around and above the freezing mark makes ice weak along the shoreline, which is then easily broken and moved by windy conditions. The areas subject to the greatest impact are those facing the primary wind direction. In the event of strong wind conditions, the public should be aware of possible onshore ice movement leading to shoreline damage. The current forecast winds are not overly high. With the warmer temperatures persisting into next week, ice out should continue.
Haliburton and Northern Areas
With the recent mixed precipitation event and onset of warm temperatures, water levels and flows and the onset of the melt are slowly rising in northern areas. Snow amounts are still remaining near the average for this time of the year in the most northern areas of the Gull River system and slightly below the average in the southern areas. Most lakes on the Gull River and Burnt River systems remain below average but are rising due to the onset of the melt. Lake levels are monitored daily and assessed in relation to estimated runoff amounts. The flows on Gull River are below average, and on Burnt River are approaching average due to the snowmelt. Flows on both rivers are anticipated to increase.
Kawartha Lakes and the Otonabee River
All Kawartha Lakes are below average except for Scugog Lake. Scugog Lake levels are above average, above full. The outflows at Lindsay Dam are maximized. Levels on the Kawarthas are expected to rise due to higher inflows from the Haliburton areas and the forecasted amounts of rainfall. Flows on the Otonabee River are above average for this time of year and will continue to increase.
Rice Lake and the Lower Trent
Water levels on Rice Lake and the Lower Trent are anticipated to increase due to increased inflows from local creeks, the Otonabee River, the Crowe River and the forecasted rainfall.
Severn River
Lake Simcoe’s water levels are above average and are slowly increasing. Black River flows are near average and continue to increase. Operations for Lake St. John in preparation for increased flows on the Black River are complete. Water levels and flows are expected to increase everywhere on the Severn River.