— The following is a release from Trent Severn Waterway Parks Canada —
Trent-Severn Waterway – Water Level Management Update – March 21, 2025
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.
Weather
The five-day weather forecast predicts a precipitation event with totals as high as 15 mm of mixed precipitation (snow and rain). Air temperatures are expected to return to seasonal, with above zero temperatures during the day and colder at night.
Outlook
With the onset of the snowmelt and the significant amount of rain received, coupled with warm temperatures, flows and water levels have increased at all locations as the rain and melting snow work their way through the system.
The Trent-Severn Water Management team will be actively monitoring the changing conditions. Any watershed condition updates will be released by your Conservation Authority or local Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources district office.
Ice on Shorelines
The temperature variations above the freezing mark makes ice weak along shorelines, 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 moderate but may reach up to 50 km/ hr gusts. With the fluctuating temperatures persisting into next week, ice-out should continue.
Haliburton and Northern Areas
With the onset of the snowmelt, water levels and flows are rising rapidly in the northern areas. The snow amounts remain near average for this time of the year in the most northern areas of the reservoir system. Most lakes on the Gull River and Burnt River systems are well above average due to the onset of early melt and rising. Lake levels are monitored daily and assessed in relation to estimated runoff amounts. Most Central Lakes are rising due to the onset of snowmelt and are above average for this time of the year. The flows on Gull River and Burnt River are above average and expected to remain high with ongoing snowmelt.
Kawartha Lakes and the Otonabee River
All Kawartha Lakes lake levels are above average and rising. Lake Scugog levels are above full and above average and rising. Levels on the Kawarthas are expected to rise due to sustained and high inflows from the Haliburton area 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 above average and are expected to remain high due to ongoing melt. The dam at Lake St. John remains closed. Water levels and flows are expected to remain high everywhere on the Severn River.