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Outstanding TSW Water Management Continues and Water Levels Across Reservoirs are Full or Overfull June 27 2024
Parks Canada Issued a Water Management Update as of June 27 2024. They note that due to recent rainfall events all reservoirs are now at their full levels or slightly above and River flows are above normal.
Last weekend from June 21 to June 24th we saw exceptional rainfall over the entire area with amounts ranging from 85 mm in the north at Kennisis Lake to 60mm at Haliburton and to 35mm in some areas further south in the Central lakes. The water management Team is actively adjusting dams and managing flows across the entire Trent Watershed. In the reservoirs the goal is to return levels to about 95% of full and thereby preserve a small capacity to manage future storm events.
This recent experience is just the latest episode in what has been an exceptional winter and spring for water management. The Parks Canada Staff have been very active managing levels and flows to ensure our lakes are at or near normal levels. Through the fall of 2023 and into winter 2024 every month saw less than normal precipitation amounts and winter temperatures were warmer than normal with some significant rainfall events causing melting. By February it was recognized that the snowpack was only 50% or less of normal and the decision was made to begin log operations about a month early to ensure that the limited melt water would be stored to reduce the risk of our lakes not filling. This strategy was very effective and combined with well above average precipitation totals in April and May it was possible to fill the entire system in time for the opening of navigation in the waterway in mid May. Now we have also seen above average rainfall in June and active water management has continued.
CEWF recognizes that the TSW Water Management team has done an exceptional job and we thank them for their attention to the entire TSW system including the reservoir lakes where rainfall amounts have been very variable spatially and where dam operations have been continuous in many cases.
~~The Following is the Water Management Update as posted by TSW~~
Trent-Severn Waterway – Water Level Management Update – June 27, 2024
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.
Parks Canada maintains the Ontario Waterways Water Management InfoNet on the Trent-Severn Waterway website at: https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/on/trentsevern/info/infonet/point-gestion-eau-water-management-updates
The InfoNet contains background information on water management practices, water management updates, frequently asked questions about water management, various reports on water management, and the most recent water levels of lakes along both the Rideau Canal and the Trent-Severn Waterway. The information comes from hydrometric gauges located at key points along both waterways and is vetted by trained and experienced Parks Canada water management staff.
This information is intended as supplemental information only. Please refer to your respective Conservation Authority or the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry as the primary source for relevant flood forecasting information specific to your area. 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. Information can also be found on the Ontario Flood Forecasting and Warning Program.
Weather
Over the past 7 days, the watersheds have received 35 – 85 mm of rain which significantly exceeds the normal precipitation for the month of June. The last 25 days have seen precipitation values in excess of 50 % above normal, which has increased water levels and flows across the entire system. The 5-day forecast suggests continued average daytime temperatures with 10-25 mm of rain. Please check the website of your local conservation authority or the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry for the most up-to-date watershed conditions. The weather forecast suggests that there is a risk of further thunderstorms towards the end of the week across the Trent-Severn.
Haliburton and Northern Areas
Due to the recent rain, the Gull, Burnt, and Central Lakes are full to slightly overfull. Flows on the Gull have not peaked and will increase due to adjustments and current levels upstream. The Burnt River is expected to peak within the next 24 hours.
Kawartha Lakes and the Otonabee River
The Kawartha Lakes levels are above average and expected to increase further due to recent rain. The Otonabee River flow is higher than normal and will remain high due to the recent rain.
Rice Lake and the Lower Trent
Rice Lake is above average. Lower Trent flows are elevated due to rain.
Severn River
The Black River has not peaked, but water levels and flows are high on the Severn River and will remain high until water levels decrease on Lake Simcoe and Sparrow Lake. Flows across the navigation channel will remain high to reduce levels on the system. Therefore residents are advised to exercise extreme caution if travelling outside Parks Canada’s hours of operation.