In the News: [click here to expand]
The work of CEWF has been recently featured on CBC Morning, in the Highlander newspaper and KawarthaNOW.
The coverage has been in relation to CEWF’s concerns about the potential for very low water as we head into the spring season. The information in the March 14, 2024 press release, below, was well-captured in the coverage.
CEWF continues to watch the water for you!
Parks Canada is Actively Operating Dams in the Reservoir Area of the TSW
Rising Water Levels and Changing Ice Conditions Expected
HALIBURTON, ON – Water levels in area reservoir lakes are near normal right now but will be changing over the next weeks, much earlier than usual.
“On behalf of our membership and the public, the CEWF is attentive to the noteworthy combination of a very low snowpack, subnormal winter precipitation and unseasonable temperatures,” said CEWF Chair Ted Spence.
Recent surveys have shown that the snowpack in the watersheds is less than 60% of normal in northern areas, and ranging down to near 0% further south.
Additionally, total precipitation has been below normal each month since September, and in February was just 35% of normal in the Haliburton area of the reservoir system. Since the Haliburton Highlands is the headwaters of the reservoir system, this combination of factors is impactful to the entire system.
“The TSW recognized this developing situation early and has been adding logs to reservoir dams. By the end of February almost all reservoir dams have had logs added to store water and reduce the risk of very low spring water levels,” said Spence.
As a result of the early logging operations, most lakes will see a slow rise however, flow-through lakes will see lower levels, and river flows will be reduced.
As lake levels rise, changes in ice conditions may include breaking up and away from the shore and creating a risk of shoreline ice damage, particularly under high winds. CEWF advises property owners to be attentive to changing conditions via local news, municipal channels or its website at cewf.ca.
While logging operations this early is unusual, CEWF notes that TSW has been proactive on behalf of the reservoir lakes. TSW staff continually monitor weather forecasts, lake levels and flows in their daily evaluation of options. Their future actions, as well as the vulnerability of the spring season, will depend on melt and rainfall events over the next two months.
“We’re going to need a lot of rain,” said Spence.
CEWF works closely with TSW to ensure its membership has the latest information on lake levels. Subscribe to digital updates via cewf.ca
See the Highlander article here: https://thehighlander.ca/2024/03/14/were-going-to-need-a-lot-of-rain-cewf/
See the KawarthaNOW article here: https://kawarthanow.com/2024/03/16/we-could-be-in-for-a-very-different-summer-officials-warn-of-potential-for-low-water-levels/
Listen to the CBC Morning interview here: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-112-ontario-morning-from-cbc-radio/clip/16050272-low-water-levels-mark-concerns-reservoirs